CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 313 



different when its feedinfj time has arrived ; then 

 its whole character changes, it suddenly becomes 

 possessed of marvellous powers of flight, and 

 exhibits an endurance of motive power and 

 elegance of movement that place it in the very 

 first rank of accomplished flyers. Now dashing 

 along within grasping distance, now wheeling- 

 round some old oak or chestnut tree, now rising- 

 high into the air, now gradually descending, 

 now sweeping forward in a long straight line, 

 and now returning in a series of graceful curves, 

 one moment visible and the next lost in the orloom 

 — it may well be doubted whether any other bird 

 can possibly excel the Nightjar in grace of move- 

 ment. Morris calls it a gigantic and sombre 

 Swallow, and, like the Swallow, is a summer visitor 

 only, and subsists on insect food," 



The favourite places of resort of this species are 

 uncultivated lands where there is plenty of bracken, 

 heather, furze, etc., and it was on such ground that 

 the specimens in the case were obtained for me by a 

 keeper in Wales. 



Woodland glades and plantations are also favourite 

 haunts, and in such places, in the summer 

 evenings, I have often heard the peculiar vibrating, 

 churring note of this species, sounding to me more 

 like the winding, in short turns, of a wheel of some 

 wooden toy than anything I can think of. 



The Nightjar makes no nest, merely lays two 

 eggs on the ground. The mouth of the bird is very 

 peculiar, being very wide, very much the shape of 



