166 



POPETUE GOATSUCKER. 



the female is destitute: in other respects the sexes 

 are similar. 



This species inhabits the whole of the United 

 States : it makes its appearance in Pensylvania 

 the last week in April ; about the middle of May 

 the female lays her eggs, which are two in num- 

 ber, in a dry place on the bare ground, generally 

 where the country is open : both ends of the 

 eggs are nearly the same in shape ; they are dirty 

 blueish black, with dark brown spots : ^e male 

 is very attentive to the female during incubation, 

 and guards her very carefully, and if any one 

 approaches he flies off in an opposite direction, 

 and utters a loud scream : the favourite time of 

 these birds for making their appearance is in the 

 evening (but during gloomy weather they are seen 

 at all times of the day), when they are all life and 

 activity : even in the hottest and clearest weather 

 they may be observed basking themselves in the 

 sun : they are very fond of perching lengthwise 

 on the branches of trees : they feed on large 

 insects : in August they are seen by hundreds 

 moving towards the south. 



