14 
CAPRIMULGUS VOCIFERUS. 
retired, solitary, and deep shaded parts of the woods, 
generally on high ground, where they repose in silence. 
When disturbed, they rise within a few feet, sail low 
and slowly through the woods for thirty or forty 
yards, and generally settle on a low branch or on the 
ground. Their sight appears deficient during the day, 
as, like owls, they seem then to want that vivacity for 
which they are distinguished in the morning and 
evening twilight. They are rarely shot at or molested ; 
and from being thus transiently seen in the obscurity 
of dusk, or in the deep umbrage of the woods, no 
wonder their particular markings of plumage should 
be so little known, or that they should be confounded 
with the night hawk, whom in general appearance 
they so much resemble. The female begins to lay 
about the second week in May, selecting for this pur- 
pose the most unfrequented part of the wood, often 
where some brush, old logs, heaps of leaves, &c. had 
been lying, and always on a dry situation. The eggs 
are deposited on the ground, or on the leaves, not the 
slightest appearance of a nest being visible. These are 
usually two in number, in shape much resembling those 
of the night hawk, but having the ground colour much 
darker, and more thickly marbled with dark olive. The 
precise period of incubation, I am unable to say. 
In traversing the woods one day in the early part of 
June, along the brow of a rocky declivity, a whip-poor- 
will rose from my feet, and fluttered along, sometimes 
prostrating herself, and beating the ground with her 
wings, as if just expiring. Aware of her purpose, I 
stood still, and began to examine the space immediately 
around me for the eggs or young, one or other of which 
I was certain must be near. After a long search, to my 
mortification, I could find neither ; and was j ust going 
to abandon the spot, when I perceived somewhat like 
a slight mouldiness among the withered leaves, and, on 
stooping down, discovered it to be a young whip-poor- 
will, seemingly asleep, as its eyelids were nearly closed ; 
or perhaps this might only be to protect its tender eyes 
from the glare of day. I sat down by it on the leaves. 
