NIGHTHAWK. The North American night jar (Chop-del/es l'irginianus), numerous and well known in all temperate parts of the continent in summer, whence in winter it migrates to the tropics. It is about 10 inches long and 23 inches in expanse of wing. The gape is destitute of bristles. The tail is slightly forked. The general color is brown, much mottled, and marked with white. There is a white mark on the throat, in shape like the letter V, and a broad white bar, which extends across the first five primary wing-feathers, is plainly visible when the bird is near by and flying. The middle toe is provided with a comb-like process used by the bird to free itself of vermin. The nighthawk is seen pursuing its insect prey in the air, chiefly after sunset and before dawn, and attracts at tention by its sharp, tearing cry. It also pro duces in its flight a remarkable hollow booming sound, "like blowing into the bung-hole of a barrel," in the moments of its perpendicular descent through the air, which has gained for it such rustic names as 'bullbat' and 'piramidig;' also 'mosquito hawk.' Its movements in the air
are extremely beautiful and rapid. When fat and plump, as it usually is on its southward migration, it is said to be good eating, and some are shot for that purpose. A closely allied species occurs in Texas and Mexico, and another in the West Indies. The latter is very generally known as the `gie-me-a-bit,' from its very char acteristic note. Nighthawks lay their eggs on the bare ground or on a flat rock or roof of a building.. They are usually two in number, and are dull white, closely marked with fine specks of grayish brown. At rest these birds roost by squatting lengthwise on a large horizontal tree branch. and at once become nearly invisible. ( ?niva re Witteroonwn.L See Plates of NualT .1At, Ere.: and of Eccos OF SONc