80 



WHIP-POOR-WILL 



opinion has also been adopted by two of our most distinguished 

 naturalists, Mr. William Bartram, of Kingsessing,* and Professor 

 Barton, of Philadelphia.! The writer of this, being determined 

 to ascertain the truth by examining for himself, took the following 

 effectual mode of settling this disputed point, the particulars of 

 which he now submits to those interested in the question. 



" Thirteen of those birds usually called Night-hawks, which 

 dart about in the air like Swallows, and sometimes descend with 

 rapidity from a great height, making a hollow soimding noise like 

 that produced by blowing into the bung-hole of an empty hogshead, 

 were shot at different times, and in different places, and accurately 

 examined both outwardly and by dissection. Nine of these were 

 found to be males, and four females. The former all corresponded 

 in the markings and tints of their plumage; the latter also agreed 

 in their marks, differing slightly from the males, tho evidently of 

 the same species. Two others were shot as they rose from the 

 nests, or rather from the eggs, which in both cases were two in 

 number, lying on the open ground. These also agreed in the 

 markings of their plumage with the four preceding; and on dissec- 

 tion were found to be females. The eggs were also secured. A 

 Whip-poor-will was shot in the evening, while in the act of repeat- 

 ing his usual and well known notes. This bird was found to be a 

 male, differing in many remarkable particulars from all the former. 

 Three others were shot at different times during the day, in soli- 

 tary and dark shaded parts of the woods. Two of these were found 

 to be females, one of which had been sitting on two eggs. The 

 two females resembled each other almost exactly; the male also 

 corresponded in its markings with the one first found; and all four 

 were evidently of one species. The eggs differed from the former 

 both in color and markings. 



* Caprimulgus Americanus^ Night-hawk or Whip-poor-will. Travels, p. 292. 

 t Caprimulgus Firginianus, Whip-poor-will or Night-hawk. Fragments of the Natural 

 History of Pennsylvania, p. 3. See also Amer. Phil. Trans, vol. IV, p. 208, 209, note. 



