23L Nltlll'l‘ll.-\\\'l\'.\‘. \l'll[P—l’Utllt—Wllilis. E’I‘G. 
     
    
   
   
    
     he passes out into bushy fields near his home. and, flying low, catches 
     
     his supper on the wing. Between courses he, rests on some low perch. 
     
     and gives utterance to the notes familiar to many who have never 
     
     seen their author. W}:1'1;'-1m0/’-lrz'll', It'llI'll-Imor-u'z'll' he calls, rapidly 
     
     and with unexpected snap and vigor. If one is quite near the singer. 
     
     a preliminary dun-k may be heard before each eall. These notes are 
     
     given for about two hours after sunset and for a short time before 
     
     sunrise. 
     
    

    
     It is a singular fact that. in spite of the marked difference in their 
     
     habits and notes, the Nighthawk and Whip-poor-will are frequently 
     
     considered to be the same species. It is not the only case, however, 
     
     where the notes of some species diflicult of observation have been 
     
     attributed to a species whose habits render it conspicuous. 
     
    
   
   
    
     420. Chordeiles virginianus (Hun/J. NIHHTHAWK: BELL-BAT. 
     
     (See Fig. 35o .lvl. 5:71.]tper parts black. irregularly marked with whitish, 
     
     cream—butt. or Oelll‘aectills—bull: primaries fuseous. crossed in the middle by a 
     
     conspicuous white bar which ~arely reaches the outer vane ot' the first pri— 
     
     mary; tail fuseous or black. with broken bars of eream—buti and a white band 
     
     near the end on all but the middle feathers; throat with a broad white band; 
     
     chin and upper breast black. the feathers tipped with oehraeeous—bufl, cream— 
     
     buti‘. or white ; the rest. of the under parts barred with blaek and white, some- 
     
     times tinged with half. Ad. 9 .—i§'imilar7 but with no white on the tail, 
     
     throatrpateh oehraeeous-lnlti. under parts more or less washed with oehra— 
     
     eeous~bulll l...1o~oo; \V., 7-s5; 1,4131); 13.. '25. 
     
    

    
     [funga—I'Iastern North America; breeds from the Gulf States to Labra— 
     
     dor; winters in South America. 
     
    

    
     Washington. not common S. R: abundant T. V.. Apl. ‘30 to (let. Sing 
     
     Sing. common S. It, May 9 to ()et.11. Cambridge, not uncommon S. R, May 
     
     1.3 to Sept. :33. 
     
    

    
     flags, two. laid on the bare ground or a flat rook in open fields. rarely on 
     
     the root‘ot'a house. dull white. evenly marked with small. irregularly shaped 
     
     blotehes or tine speeklings ot' grayish brown or brownish gray. 1‘20 x '86. 
     
    
   
   
    
     In wooded regions the Nighthawk passes the day perched length- 
     
     wise on a limb, but on the plains he roosts upon the ground, where his 
     
     colors harmonize with his surroundings. 
     
    

    
     Soon after sunset he mounts high in the air to course for insects. 
     
     Batlike he tlies erratically about, and at more or less regular intervals 
     
     utters a loud nasal 72mm, this call being followed by two or three un- 
     
     usually quiek. flitting.r wing—beats. Long after the light has faded 
     
     from the western horizon we may hear this voice from the starlit 
     
     heavens. for the Nighthawk is one of our few truly nocturnal birds. 
     
    

    
     Occasionally the pew/ts are given more rapidly. and after calling 
     
     several times in close succession the bird on half-closed wings dives 
     
     earthward with such speed that one, fears for his safety; but just