76 



WHIP-POOR-WILL 



successively, in the same part of the woods. I also heard several 

 of them passing, within the same week, between dusk and nine 

 o^clock at night, it being then clear moonlight. These repeated 

 their notes three or four times, and were heard no more. It is 

 highly probable that they migrate during the evening and night. 



The Whip-poor-will is nine inches and a half long, and nine- 

 teen inches in extent; the bill is blackish, a full quarter of an inch 

 long, much stronger than that of the Night-hawk, and bent a little 

 at the point, the under mandible arched a little upwards, following 

 the curvature of the upper; the nostrils are prominent and tubular, 

 their openings directed forward; the mouth is extravagantly large, 

 of a pale flesh color within, and beset along the sides with a num- 

 ber of long thick elastic bristles, the longest of which extends more 

 than half an inch beyond the point of the bill, end in fine hair, and 

 curve inwards; these seem to serve as feelers; and prevent the es- 

 cape of winged insects : the eyes are very large, full, and bluish 

 black ; the plumage above is so variegated with black, pale cream, 

 brown, and rust color, sprinkled and powdered in such minute 

 streaks and spots, as to defy description; the upper part of the 

 head is of a light brownish grey, marked with a longitudinal streak 

 of black, with others radiating from it; the back is darker, finely 

 streaked with a less deep black; the scapulars are very light whitish 

 ochre, beautifully variegated with two or three oblique streaks of 

 very deep black ; the tail is rounded, consisting of ten feathers, the 

 exterior one an inch and a quarter shorter than the middle ones, 

 the three outer feathers on each side are blackish brown for half 

 their length, thence pure white to the tips, the exterior one is edged 

 with deep brown nearly to the tip; the deep brown of these feathers 

 is regularly studded with light brown spots ; the four middle ones 

 are without the white at the ends, but beautifully marked with her- 

 ring-bone figures of black and light ochre finely powdered; cheeks 

 and sides of the head of a brown orange or burnt color; the wingSy 

 when shut, reach scarcely to the middle of the tail, and are elegantly 



