THE NIGHT JAK. 131 



This bird has one habit peculiar to itself ; it will make about one hundred turns in 

 succession the circuit of a large leafless tree, with an irregular and very rapid flight. 

 From time to time it will drop abruptly down, as if to fall on its prey, and then suddenly 

 rise again in the same manner. At such times it is exceedingly difiicult to bring it 

 within range of shot, for, on the advance of the fowler, it disappears so rapidly that it is 

 impossible to discover the place of its retreat. 



We must not expect from this bird, remaining during the day in a sombre and solitary 

 state of inaction, an elegant and artiflcially constructed nest, which requires the bright 

 beams of the sun and the love of laboiu'. A small h£)le at the foot of a tree, or of a rock, 

 and sometimes even in the naked and beaten ground, is the place where the female 

 deposits her eggs. These are oblong, lightly shaded, and marbled with blackish points 

 on a white ground. It is said she hatches them with the greatest solicitude, and that 

 when she discovers they have been observed, she changes their place, by pushing them 

 forward dexterously with her \vings, into some other spot, and sometimes even carrying 

 them with her bill. 



The night jar is migratory. It arrives in our climates in spring, and departs in 

 autumn. These birds are found from the most northern jDarts of Europe even into 

 Africa. They pass the month of April in Malta, whither they are carried by the south- 

 east wind, and where they are also found in great numbers in the autumnal season. 

 They do not arrive in England until towards the end of May, and they leave it about the 

 middle of August. They remain later in France, and may be seen even in November. 

 It is stated that many birds of this sjjecies have been killed in the woods of Vosges, in 

 the middle of winter and in the depth of snow. Still, however, this must be very rarely, 

 as, at such periods, the insectivorous birds must experience the greatest difliculty in 

 procuring an adequate supply of aliment. 



The solitude of an evening walk is sometimes strangely distui'bed by this bird. 

 Suddenly, perhaps, a jarring vibratory sound, like that of a spinning-wheel, strikes 

 upon the ear, then ceases for a moment, and soon recurring with increased volume, and 

 then again ceasing, the form of a bird is seen, and as swift as an arrow, and noiseless 

 as a shadow it skims past, and then settling on a branch the jarring sound recurs. 



" Hark ! from yon quivering branch your direst foe, 

 Insects of night, its whirring note prolongs, 

 Loud as the sound of busy maiden's wheel ; 

 Then, with expanded beak, and throat enlai-ged 

 Even to its utmost stretch, its 'customed food 

 Pui'sues voracious." 



During the season of incubation, the male maintains a most vigilant watch against the 

 intrusion of enemies. Wilson, who describes an American species of this bird, mentions 

 that at the time of sitting, the male may usually be seen playing about in the air over 

 the place, even during the day, mounting by several quick vibrations of the wings, then 

 a few slower, uttering all the while a sharp, harsh squeak, till, having gained the 

 highest point, he suddenly precipitates himself, head foremost, and with great rapidity 

 down sixty or eighty feet, wheeling up again as suddenly, at which instant is heard a 

 loud booming sound, very much resembling that produced by blowing strongly into the 

 bung-hole of an empty hogshead. This is believed to be occasioned by the sudden 

 exjjansion of his cai^acious mouth while he passes through the air. Having completed 

 these gymnastic exercises, by which, doubtless, he imagines the preservation of his 

 family to be materially promoted, he again moimts by alternately quick and leisurely 

 motions of his wings, playing about as he ascends, uttering his usual hoarse squeak, till 

 in a few minutes he repeats the impetuous descent previously made. During the time 



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