166 
NIGHT HAWK. 
from two hours before sunset until dusk. At such times they 
seem all vivacity, darting about in the air in every direction, 
making frequent short sudden turnings, as if busily engaged 
in catching insects. Even in the hottest, clearest weather, 
they are occasionally seen abroad, squeaking at short intervals. 
They are also often found sitting along the fences, basking 
themselves in the sun. Near the sea-shore, in the vicinity of 
extensive salt marshes, they are likewise very numerous, 
skimming over the meadows, in the manner of Swallows, 
until it is so dark that the eye can no longer follow them. 
When wounded and taken, they attempt to intimidate you 
by opening their mouth to its utmost stretch, throwing the 
head forward, and uttering a kind of guttural whizzing sound, 
striking also violently with their wings, which seem to be 
their only offensive weapons ; for they never attempt to strike 
with the bill or claws. 
About the middle of August, they begin to move off 
towards the south ; at which season they may be seen almost 
every evening, from five o’clock until after sunset, passing 
along the Schuylkill and the adjacent shores, in widely 
scattered multitudes, all steering towards the south. I have 
counted several hundreds within sight at the same time, dis- 
persed through the air, and darting after insects as they 
advanced. These occasional processions continue for two or 
three weeks ; none are seen travelling in the opposite direc- 
tion. Sometimes they are accompanied by at least twice as 
many Barn Swallows, some Chimney Swallows and Purple 
Martins. They are also most numerous immediately pre- 
ceding a northeast storm. At this time also they abound in 
the extensive meadows on the Schuylkill and Delaware, 
where I have counted fifteen skimming over a single field in 
an evening. On shooting some of these, on the 14th of 
August, their stomachs were almost exclusively filled with 
crickets. From one of them I took nearly a common snuff- 
box full of these insects, all seemingly fresh swallowed. 
By the middle or 20th of September, very few of these 
