e is almost as domestic as the Robin. In
search of ants and their eggs, he hunts our lawns and even accepts the
hospitality of our nest-logs. A great acquisition to our dooryard life
is this bird of beautiful colors, quaint habits, and strange notes. His
loud, strongly accented call, _kee-yer_, his rapidly repeated mellow
_weechew, weechew_, possess character even if they lack musical quality.

The Flicker nests in holes and lays from 5-9 white eggs in late April or
early May.

GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, HUMMINGBIRDS. ORDER MACROCHIRES

NIGHTHAWKS, WHIP-POOR-WILLS, ETC. FAMILY CAPRIMULGIDAE

CHUCKWILL'S WIDOW

_Antrostromus carolinensis. Case 6, Fig. 40_

A larger, browner bird than the Whip-poor-will,
with branched, not simple bristles at the sides of
the bill. Breast-patch whiter in the male than in
the female. L. 12.

_Range._ Southern states north to Virginia;
wintering from southern Florida southward and
migrating northward in March.

Washington, one record. Cambridge, A.V., one
record, Dec.

What the Whip-poor-will is to the north the Chuckwill is to the south.
The difference in their names expresses the syllabic difference in
their calls, but the Chuckwill's notes are uttered more evenly and lack
the marked accent on the first "Whip" of its northern cousin's song.

The Chuckwill lays its two eggs in April on the ground in the woods,
where it lives. They are white with delicate lilac markings and a few
brownish spots.

WHIP-POOR-WILL

_Antrostomus vociferus vociferus. Case 6, Fig. 41_

Outer wing-quills barred with rusty, breast-band
white in the male, buff in the female. L. 9-3/4.

_Range._ Breeds from northern Georgia north to
Canada, winters from the Gulf States southward,
starting north in April.

Washington, common S.R., Apl. 13-Oct 13. Ossining,
common S.R., Apl. 19-Oct. 17. Cambridge, formerly
S.R., now chiefly T.V., Apl. 30-Sept. 20. N. Ohio,
locally common S.R., Apl. 29-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn,
rare, spring records only, Apl. 19-May 21. SE.
Minn., common S.R., Apl. 17-Sept. 28.

A mysterious, silent, flitting shadow, should we chance to arouse it
from its sleep in the forest by day, at dusk the Whip-poor-will takes
the center of the stage and announces his presence to the world.