l,f>4 VIRGINIAN GOATSUCKER. 



neck, a few orange spots ; beneath the eyes grey 

 brown : chin of the male with a triangular white 

 spot, varied with orange on the lower parts : under 

 parts of the body reddish white, barred with dusky : 

 tail similar to the wings ; the two outer feathers 

 with a white spot near the end : legs flesh-colour : 

 female with a rufous white spot on the chin, and 

 without the white on the quills and tail-feathers. 



This species of Goatsucker, which is known in 

 the United States of America by the name of 

 Whip-poor-will^ arrives in Virginia about the latter 

 end of April : it does not make a nest ; but lays 

 its eggs, which are two in number, and not much 

 unlike those of the Popetue Goatsucker, except 

 in being rather darker in colour, on the bare 

 ground in May: its food consists of the larger 

 moths, grasshoppers, and such-like insects, which 

 it does not always catch while on the wing, but 

 will frequently sit upon a post or rail, and leap 

 up after them, as they fly by : it begins its note, 

 from whence its American name is taken, about 

 sunset, and continues it nearly till sunrise, with- 

 out intermission ; and very often five or six may 

 be heard at once : it is said to be very good for 

 food : it departs in September towards the south. 



