49 
Family Capi'imulgidce. 
The Whip-poor-will and the Nighthawk. — Six reports 
mention a recent sudden decrease or an absence of the whip- 
poor-will, which may or may not be a result of the June 
storms of 1903; but there is much evidence that the night- 
hawk has been diminishing for years in certain sections. 
Twenty-four observers report it as diminishing, very rare 
or absent, where it was formerly common. Seventeen see 
no change in their localities, but only eight report the bird 
as increasing or abundant. The decrease is reported from 
Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk and 
Bristol counties, which comprise much the greater part of 
the State. In Essex County the species seems to be hold- 
ing its own, or in some cases increasing. We have Barn- 
stable, Nantucket and Dukes counties yet to hear from. In 
some localities in all parts of the State nighthawks seem to 
be holding their own; but the evidence of competent ob- 
servers agrees in the main, with my own experience, — that 
nighthawks have decreased in number over large areas. Mr. 
William Brewster, who has kept careful records of the num- 
ber of birds seen and heard, says that nighthawks have been 
decreasing for years in the region about Cambridge and Con- 
cord. Mr. C. E. Bailey reports them now as growing rare 
in those sections with which he is familiar. The evidence 
from portions of southeastern Massachusetts, as well as many 
regions in the western counties, seems to indicate that these 
birds are now generally rather uncommon there. A large 
part of Worcester County, however, seems to be well supplied 
with them. It is impossible to make any accurate statement 
of the areas in which they have decreased without a careful 
canvass of the whole State. 
The Meadowlark and Bobolink. — It is quite generally 
believed that the meadowlark and bobolink have diminished 
because of the early cutting of the grass in fields and meadows 
since the general introduction of mowing machines. Where 
the grass is cut in June, the eggs or the young of these birds, 
even if escaping injury by the machine, are exposed to the 
heat of the sun and the attacks of their enemies. This in- 
