12 
CAPRIMULGUS VOCIFERUS. 
being* slightly tipt with white; the tail is as in the 
male, and minutely tipt with white ; all the scapulars, 
and whole upper parts, are powdered with a much 
lighter gray. 
There is no description of the present species in 
Turton’s translation of Linnaeus. The characters of 
the genus given in the same work are also in this case 
incorrect, viz. “ mouth furnished with a series of 
bristles ; tail not forked,” — the night hawk having 
nothing of the former, and its tail being largely forked. 
68. CAFRIMULGUS VOCIFERUS , WILSON. — WHIP-POOR-WILL. 
WILSON, PLATE XLI. FIG. I. MALE. — FIG. II. FEMALE. FIG. III. 
YOUNG. 
This is a singular and very celebrated species, univer- 
sally noted over the greater part of the United States 
for the loud reiterations of his favourite call in spring ; 
and yet personally he is but little known, most people 
being unable to distinguish this from the preceding 
species, when both are placed before them ; and some 
insisting that they are the same. This being the case, 
it becomes the duty of his historian to give a full and 
faithful delineation of his character and peculiarity of 
manners, that his existence as a distinct and indepen- 
dent species may no longer be doubted, nor his story 
mingled confusedly with that of another. I trust that 
those best acquainted with him will bear witness to the 
fidelity of the portrait. 
On or about the 25th of April, if the season be not 
uncommonly cold, the whip-poor-will is first heard in 
this part of Pennsylvania, in the evening, as the dusk 
of twilight commences, or in the morning as soon as 
dawn has broke. In the State of Kentucky I first heard 
this bird on the 14th of April, near the town of Dan- 
ville. The notes of this solitary bird, from the ideas 
which are naturally associated with them, seem like 
the voice of an old friend, and are listened to by almost 
all with great interest. At first they issue from some 
