THE NIGHT HAWK. 113 
Rocky Mountains. The name of this bird is in 
singular disagreement with its most marked charac- 
teristics, it being generally seen upon the wing in 
broad day, often when the sun is shining brilliantly, 
and mostly retiring to rest soon after dusk. It may 
frequently be seen flying over the steeples and tall 
chimneys of our most densely populated cities, and 
sometimes builds its nest upon the house-top. Its food 
consists of large insects, which it procures upon the 
wing. When engaged in their pursuit, its motions 
are very graceful and interesting, and as it glides 
around in endless gyrations, flinging itself with the 
most careless ease upon the bosom of every gale, now 
rising, and now, like an arrow, dropping on its prey, 
at intervals uttering a shrill scream, then darting off 
in a wild zigzag course, snapping up every insect that 
comes within its reach, its actions may be followed by 
the eye with no small degree of pleasure. 
In Louisiana it makes its appearance from the 
south early in the Spring; here it spends several 
weeks of the time occupied in its migrations, and is 
seen sailing over the cotton and sugar plantations, 
picking up here and there an unlucky beetle, or 
gambolling wildly over the prairies, lakes, and rivers 
from morning until evening. 
There is probably no other bird, except the Swal- 
low, which can rival the Night Hawk in the beauty 
and ease of its aerial motions, abounding as they do 
in feats of the most wonderful agility. Sometimes it 
will raise itself several hundred feet in the most 
careless manner, crying louder and louder as it as- 
10 * H 
