SPECIES 2. CAPRIMULGUS JiMERICJiNUS. 
NIGHT-HAWK. 
[Plate XL. — Fig. 1, Male. — Fig. 2, Female.'] 
Long-winged Goatsucker, Jlrct. Zool. JST o. 337. — Peale’s Muse- 
um, JVo. 7723, males 7724, female. 
This bird, in Virginia and some of the southern districts, is 
called a bat; the name Night-hawk is usually given it in the 
middle and northern states, probably on account of its appear- 
ance when on wing very much resembling some of our small 
Hawks, and from its habit of flying chiefly in the evening. 
Though it is a bird universally known in the United States, 
and inhabits North America, in summer, from Florida to Hud- 
son’s Bay, yet its history has been involved in considerable 
obscurity by foreign writers, as well as by some of our own 
country. Of this I shall endeavour to devest it in the present 
account. 
Three species only, of this genus, are found within the United 
States; the Chuck-will’ s-widow, the Whip-poor-will, and the 
Night-hawk. The first of these is confined to those states lying 
south of Maryland; the other two are found generally over the 
union, but are frequently confounded one with the other, and 
by some supposed to be one and the same bird. A comparison 
of this with the succeeding plate, which contains the figure of 
the Whip-poor-will, will satisfy those who still have their doubts 
on this subject; and the great difference of manners which dis- 
tinguishes each will render this still more striking and satisfac- 
tory. 
Caprimvigus popetue, ViEirt. Ois. de l\im. Sept. pi. 24, female. 
