NIGHT HAWK. 
167 
birds are to be seen in Pennsylvania ; how far south they go, 
or at what particular time they pass the southern boundaries 
of the United States, I am unable to say. None of them 
winter in Georgia. 
The ridiculous name Goatsucker, — which was first 
bestowed on the European species, from a foolish notion 
that it sucked the teats of the goats, because, probably, it 
inhabited the solitary heights where they fed, which nickname 
has been since applied to the whole genus, — I have thought 
proper to omit. There is something worse than absurd in 
continuing to brand a whole family of birds with a knavish 
name, after they are universally known to be innocent of 
the charge. It is not only unjust, but tends to encourage 
the belief in an idle fable that is totally destitute of all foun- 
dation. 
The Night Hawk is nine inches and a half in length, and 
twenty-three inches in extent ; the upper parts are of a very 
deep blackish brown, unmixed on the primaries, but thickly 
sprinkled or powdered on the back scapulars and head with 
innumerable minute spots and streaks of a pale cream colour, 
interspersed with specks of reddish ; the scapulars are barred 
with the same, also the tail-coverts and tail, the inner edges 
of which are barred with white and deep brownish black for 
an inch and a half from the tip, where they are crossed 
broadly with a band of white, the two middle ones excepted, 
which are plain deep brown, barred and sprinkled with light 
clay; a spot of pure white extends over the five first 
primaries, the outer edge of the exterior feather excepted, 
and about the middle of the wing ; a triangular spot of white 
also marks the throat, bending up on each side of the neck; 
the bill is exceedingly small* scarcely one-eighth of an inch 
in length, and of a black colour ; the nostrils circular, and 
surrounded with a prominent rim ; eye, large and full, of a 
deep bluish black ; the legs are short, feathered a little below 
the knees, and, as well as the toes, of a purplish flesh colour, 
seamed with white ; the middle claw is pectinated on its 
