WHIP-POOR-WILL 



81 



" The differences between these two birds were as follow : the 

 sides of the mouth in both sexes of the Whip-poor-will were beset 

 with ranges of long and very strong bristles, extending more than 

 half an inch beyond the point of the bill ; both sexes of the Night- 

 hawk were entirely destitute of bristles. The bill of the Whip- 

 poor-will was also more than twice the length of that of the Night- 

 hawk. The long wing quills, of both sexes of the Night-hawk, 

 were of a deep brownish black, with a large spot of white nearly in 

 their middle; and when shut the tips of the wings extended a little 

 beyond the tail. The wing quills of the Whip-poor-will, of both 

 sexes, were beautifully spotted with light brown, had no spot of 

 white on them, and when shut the tips of the wings did not reach 

 to the tip of the tail by at least two inches. The tail of the Night- 

 hawk was handsomely forked, the exterior feathers being the longest, 

 shortening gradually to the middle ones ; the tail of the Whip-poor- 

 will was rounded, the exterior feathers being the shortest, lengthen- 

 ing gradually to the middle ones. 



" After a careful examination of these and several other re- 

 markable differences, it was impossible to withstand the convic- 

 tion that these birds belonged to two distinct species of the same 

 genus, differing in size, color, and conformation of parts. 



" A statement of the principal of these facts having been laid 

 before Mr. Bartram, together with a male and female of each of 

 the above mentioned species, and also a male of the Great Virgi- 

 nian Bat, or Chuck'wiir S'widoiv, after a particular examination that 

 venerable naturalist was pleased to declare himself fully satisfied; 

 adding that he had now no doubt of the Night-hawk and the Whip- 

 poor-will being two very distinct species of Caprimulgus. 



" It is not the intention of the writer of this to enter at pre- 

 sent into a description of either the plumage, manners, migra- 

 tions, or economy of these birds, the range of country they in- 

 habit, or the superstitious notions entertained of them; his only 

 VOL. v. X 



