The Pacific Nighthawk 
sure to avail themselves of all cloudy days. In fact, they move about at 
will whenever the sun slants fairly. The middle hours of the day are 
spent upon the ground, or if in timbered country, crouched lengthwise 
upon a tree limb. For the latter situation nature has devised a special 
apparatus in the shape of a comb-like process along the inner edge of the 
middle claw of each foot. The feet and legs being, for lack of other use, 
very weak, this pectination of the middle claw must be of material service 
in enabling the bird to retain its footing on a rounding surface of bark. 
It is in these hours of the middle siesta that the intricate color pattern 
of the plumage makes the bird appear—or rather disappear—to the 
greatest advantage against the variegated setting of bark or rock. A 
Nighthawk on the ground is all but invisible—and knows it. 
The Nighthawk, or Goatsucker family (or order), the Caprimulgidce, 
is chiefly of tropical or subtropical distribution. To those, therefore, 
who are familiar with the Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis ) 
and Whip-poor-will (A. vociferus ) of the southeast, or even with the eastern 
Nighthawk (C. m. minor), it comes as a surprise to learn that our bird is 
Transitional, or even Boreal in its Californian range. I know I was 
Taken at Big Bear Lake Photo by Pierce 
I062 
AN UNUSUAL TYPE 
