THE 
‘VOCIE EROUS GOAT SUCKER. 
; JESS Sep dokiee 
"GENERIC CHARACTER. | 
Bill very small, slightly hooked, depressed at 
; the base, and ciliated with bristles. 
Gape very wide. 
Tongue entire, and sharp- “pointed. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, Se, t 
Grey Goatsucker, with whitish gular crescent, 
beneath ochre-coloured with brown linea- 
tions, and peueenous wings clouded with 
black. ; 
Caprimulgus vociferus, or Whip: Poor-Will. 
Wilson Amer. Zool. 5. pl. 4. 

The present bird, hitherto confounded by ornitho- 
logists with a different species, is an inhabitant, dur- 
ing the summer months, of most of the United States 
of North America, and is remarkable for the loud- 
ness of its notes, which, echoing from the. woods and 
mountains, are said to prevent those from sleeping 
who have not been accustomed to the sound. The 
ingenious Mr. Wilson, in his work entitled American — 
Ornithology, has accurately described this species, and 
observes, that it is never seen in the day-time, except 
in particular circumstances; and that its food, like — 
that of the rest of this genus, consists of large moths, ° 
grasshoppers and ants, as well as of other insects fre- 
quenting old and decaying trees. Mr. Wilson adds, 
that the female is rather smaller or. shorter than the 
male, and of somewhat paler colours. 
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