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WHIP-POOR-WILL. 
than half an inch beyond the point of the bill, end in fine hair, 
and curve inwards ; these seem to serve as feelers ; and pre- 
vent the escape of winged insects : the eyes are very large, 
full, and bluish black; the plumage above is so variegated 
with black, pale cream, brown, and rust colour, sprinkled and 
powdered in such minute streaks and spots, as to defy descrip- 
tion ; the upper part of the head is of a light brownish gray, 
marked with a longitudinal streak of black, with others 
radiating from it ; the back is darker, finely streaked with a 
less deep black ; the scapulars are very light whitish ochre, 
beautifully variegated with two or three oblique streaks of 
very deep black ; the tail is rounded, consisting of ten feathers, 
the exterior one an inch and a quarter shorter than the middle 
ones, the three outer feathers on each side are blackish brown 
for half their length, thence pure white to the tips ; the exterior 
one is edged with deep brown nearly to the tip ; the deep 
brown of these feathers is regularly studded with light brown 
spots ; the four middle ones are without the white at the ends, 
but beautifully marked with herring-bone figures of black and 
light ochre finely powdered ; cheeks and sides of the head, of 
a brown orange or burnt colour ; the wings, when shut, reach 
scarcely to the middle of the tail, and are elegantly spotted 
with very light and dark brown, but are entirely without the 
large spot of white which distinguishes those of the Night 
Hawk ; chin, black, streaked with brown ; a narrow semicircle 
of white passes across the throat ; breast and belly, irregularly 
mottled and streaked with black and yellow ochre ; the legs 
and feet are of a light purplish flesh colour, seamed with white ; 
the former feathered before, nearly to the feet ; the two 
exterior toes are joined to the middle one, as far as the first 
joint, by a broad membrane; the inner edge of the middle 
claw is pectinated, and, from the circumstance of its being 
frequently found with small portions of down adhering to the 
teeth, is probably employed as a comb to rid the plumage of 
its head of vermin ; this being the principal and almost only 
part so infested in all birds. 
