THE WHIP-POOR-WILL. 
75 
than that of the night-hawk, and bent at the point. The 
month is very large, and beset on the sides with long 
elastic bristles, which serve as feelers and prevent the 
escape of the winged insects on which it feeds. Our 
engraving shows its figure in flight, and its curious markings. 
The Whip-poor-will is never seen during the day, unless 
in circumstances such as have been described. Their food 
appears to be large moths, grasshoppers, pismires, and such 
insects as frequent the bark of old rotten and decaying tim- 
ber. They are also expert in darting after winged insects. 
They will sometimes skim in the dust, within a few feet of 
a person, uttering a kind of low chatter as they pass. In 
their migrations north, and on their return, they probably 
stop a day or two at some of their former stages, and do 
not advance in one continued flight. 
ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTE. 
The following little incident, narrated by Mr. Wilson, 
illustrates at once a trait in the character of the bird, and 
the gentle and humane disposition of the naturalist : — 
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 
