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S'PECIES 2. C9PRIMULGUS SMERICaNUS.-*
                     NIGHT-HAWK.
       [Plate XL.-Fig. 1, Male.-Fig. 2, Female.]
Long-winged Goatsucker, Lrct. Zool. .No. S37.-PEALE'S Muse-
              um, .Mo. 7723, inale; 7724, female.
  THIS bird, in Virginia and some of the southern districts, is
called a bat; the name Night-hawk is usually given it in the
middle and northern states, probably on account of its appear-
ance when on wing very much resembling some of our small
Hawks, and from its habit of flying chiefly in the evening.
Though it is a bird universally known in the United States,
and inhabits North America, in summer, from Florida to Hud-
son's Bay, yet its history has been involved in considerable
obscurity by foreign writers, as well as by some of our own
country. Of this I shall endeavour to devest it in the present
account.
  Three species only, of this genus, are found within the United
States; the Chuck-will's-widow, the Whip-poor-will, and the
Night-hawk. The first of these is confined to those states lying
south of Maryland; the other two are found generally over the
union, but are frequently confounded one with the other, and
by some supposed to be one and the same bird. A comparison
of this with the succeeding plate, which contains the figure of
the T'Vhip-poor-will, will satisfy those who still have their doubts
on this subject; and the great difference of manners which dis-
tinguishes each will render this still more striking and satisfac-
tory.
* Caprimulgus popetue, VIEILL. Ois. de 1'A3m. Sept pl. 24, female.