14 
CAPRIMULCUS VOCIFERUS. 
retired, solitary, and deep shaded parts of the tvood* 
g-enerally on hi^rh <;roiind, where they repose in silence 
When disturbed, tliey rise within a few feet, sail lorf 
and slowly throu;rh the woods for thirty or fort? 
yards, and trcncrally settle on a low branch or on tld 
ground. Their sight appears delicient during the daV' 
iis, like owl-i, they seem then to want that vivacity foj 
which they are distinguished in the morning au« 
evening twilight. They are r.arely shot at or molestedi 
and from being thus transiently seen in the obscuritf 
of dusk, or in the deep umbrage of the woods, n« 
wouder their particular markings of plumage shouW 
bo so little known, or that they should be confounded 
with the night hawk, whom in general appearanc* 
they so much resemble. The female begins to laj 
about the second week in May, selecting for this puP 
pose the most unfrequented part of the wood, otteH 
where some brush, old logs, heaps of leaves, &c. had 
been lying, and always on a dry situation. The egg* 
are deposited on the ground, or on the leaves, not tlP^ 
slightest appearance of a neat being visible. These art’ 
usually two in number, in shape much resembling thos* 
of the night hawk, but having the ground colour muc!> 
darker, aud more thickly marbled with dark olive. TW 
precise period of iucubation, I am unable to say. 
In traversing the woods one day in the early' part ol 
June, along the brow of a rocky declivity', a whip-pooP 
will rose from ray feet, and fluttered along, sometimcf 
prostrating herself, and beating the ground with he* 
wings, as if just e.vpiring. Aware of her purpose, I 
stood still, and began to examine the space immedialelj 
around me for the eggs or young, one or other of whirJ> 
I w'as certain must be near. After a long search, to m< 
mortification, 1 could find neither; and was just goinj 
to abandou the spot, when I perceived somewhat likt 
a slight mouldiiiess among the withered leaves, and, 
stooping down, discovered it to be a young whip-pooP 
will, seemingly asleep, as its eyelids were nearly closed I 
or perhaps this might only be to protect its tender eye* 
from the glare of day'. I sat down by it on the leave* 
