I stood watching, she performed all manner of antics in her endeavor to persuade mo that she was but 
a poor cripple at best.. She would limp over the ground, with both wings hanging as if broken, and 
then for a time lie panting as if dying. Finally I gave chase, having first taken the eggs, and was lead 
some distance into the woods, when, suddenly, my cripple disappeared in the direction of her nest. I at 
once returned, but she had discovered the robbery and abandoned the cheat. The male did not appear 
at any time. 
I have frequently flushed Whip-poor-wills in September and October while Grouse hunting, and 
several times have encountered quite large flocks, but usually only a single bird is seen at a time. In 
May and June they are much less numerous than in the fall. During the day they sit about on old 
logs, on the lower branches of trees, and upon the ground, in the most retired places, apparently sleeping. 
When flushed they utter no note, but fly off like a bat for a short distance, and alight. If caution 
is used, one can approach very close at such a time before the bird will again fly. They seldom cry out 
during the day, unless it is exceptionally dark; but as soon as night comes on they repeat at short inter- 
vals their notes, which have by some lively imagination been likened to the words whip-poor-will. The 
sounds, however, bear no closer resemblance to these words than to many others. 
The food of the species consists chiefly of insects, which are captured principally during twilight and 
dawn. During their search for food the birds leave the woods and fly about over the fields and marshes, 
and other places where insects abound. I have several times seen old birds feeding their young along 
the roadside, the young being perched upon the fence or sitting in the road. Their flight is noiseless 
and uncertain, and even more zigzag than that of the Night Hawk. 
It has been recorded that the Whip-poor-will has the ability to carry off her eggs and young from 
the nest to a place of safety, udien she believes them to have been discovered ancl are in danger. As 
improbable as this seems at first thought, I do not doubt it. The evidence is such as can hardly be 
gainsaved. It is related by Mr. Audubon, that the Chuck-will’s widow carries its eggs in its mouth, and 
it is probable that the Whip-poor-will does the same. But -whatever the method of transfer, it is quite 
certain that the eggs and young are at times removed as stated above. 
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