252 
WHIP-POOR-WILL. 
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, though 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 pre- 
ceding ; and on dissection were found to be females. The eggs were 
also secured. A Whip-poor-will was shot in the evening, while in the 
act of repeating 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 
solitary 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 corres- 
ponded in its markings with the one first found; and all four were evi- 
dently of one species. The eggs differed from the former both in color 
and markings. 
" 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 epulis 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, length- 
ening gradually to the middle ones. 
" After a careful examination of these and several other remarkable 
differences, it was impossible to withstand the conviction 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 Virginian Bat, or 
Chuck-iviU s-widow, after a particular examination that venerable natu- 
