I 
102 THE VIRGINIAN GOA T-S TICKER. 
their extremities. The shafts are very slight indeed, and as the webbed ends are easily acted 
npon by the wind, they are continually moving, and float about in the breeze in a most grace- 
ful manner. The inner web of these curious feathers is nearly two inches in width at its 
broadest part, while the outer web is barely one fourth of that measurement. 
The object of these curious appendages is not known. They are only found in the male 
bird, and evidently bear an analogy to the train of the peacock and the long tail-feathers of 
the pheasant among the birds, as well as to the beards, horns, tusks, manes, and similar 
appendages of male quadrupeds. The plumage of the Leona Nightjar is very prettily marked 
with spots and bars of rusty-red and black npon the usual brown ground. Every primary 
feather possesses nine rusty-red spots, and as many of a black hue, and there are many other 
spots and bars scattered over the body and wings. There is a considerable amount of creamy 
white upon the scapularies, a few white mottlings upon the throat of the male, and a reddish- 
white stripe down the outer web of the two exterior tail-feathers. 
The beak of this species is not so powerful as in many of its relatives, but the vibrissse 
are long and well developed. The wings are long, overpassing the tip of the tail while the 
bird is at rest, and showing that the powers of flight are considerable. The bird is not a 
large one, measuring only eight or ten inches in total length. It is a native of Western 
Africa. 
The Yieginiax GJ-oat-suckee, Mosquito Hawk, or Higiit-hawk, inhabits the northern 
parts of the American continent, and in the summer months is seen even in the Arctic 
regions. 
It is not so exclusively nocturnal a bird as most of the Goat-suckers, but will voluntarily 
leave its home on a cloudy day, and commence its task of hunting after flies, moths, beetles, 
VIRGINIAN GOAT-SUCKER .— Ghordelles virginianus. 
and other insects on which it feeds. It is a bird of vigorous and active wing, and follows its 
insect prey even into the loftier regions of the air, where it seems as much at its ease as the 
swift or the swallow. While chasing the insects, the Night-hawk constantly utters a shrill, 
squeaking kind of cry, reminding the spectator of the screaming cries of the common swift. 
It also has a curious habit of hovering over its mate as she sits on her eggs, darting down upon 
her from a considerable elevation, and then suddenly sweeping up again with a loud booming 
sound, occasioned either by the wings or by the vocal organs. This strange manoeuvre is con- 
stantly repeated, and appears to be performed for the purpose of showing a delicate attention 
to the sitting bird, and amusing her during her long and tedious task. 
