65 



NIGHT-HAWK. 

 CAPEIMULGUS AMERICANUS. 

 [Plate XL.— Fig. 1, Male.—Yig, % Female?^ 



Long-winged Goatsucker, Arct. ZooL JVo, 337.— Pe ale's Museum, JVo. 7723, male, 7724, 



female. 



THIS bird, in Virginia and some of the southern districts, is 

 called a bat; the name Night-hawk is usually given it in the middle 

 and northern states, probably on account of its appearance when 

 on wing very much resembling some of our small Hawks, and from 

 its habit of flying chiefly in the evening. Tho it is a bird univer- 

 sally known in the United States, and inhabits North America, in 

 summer, from Florida to Hudson's Bay, yet its history has been in- 

 volved in considerable obscurity by foreign writers, as well as by 

 some of our own country. Of this I shall endeavour to divest it in 

 the present account. 



Three species only, of this genus, are found within the United 

 States ; the Chuck-wiW s-widow, the Whip-poor-will, and the Night- 

 hawk. The first of these is confined to those states lying south of 

 Maryland; the other two are found generally over the union, but 

 are frequently confounded one with the other, and by some sup- 

 posed to be one and the same bird. A comparison of this with the 

 succeeding plate, which contains the figure of the Whip-poor-will^ 

 will satisfy those who still have their doubts on this subject; and 

 the great difference of manners which distinguishes each will ren- 

 der this still more striking and satisfactory. 



On the last week in April, the Night-Hawk commonly makes 

 its first appearance in this part of Pennsylvania. At what parti- 

 cular period they enter Georgia I am unable to say; but I find by 

 VOL. v. R 



