Nightjar ^^7 



Curlew : a bird that fails to rear its \(mng must necessaril}- die out. 

 It is the destruction, in one way or another, of the eggs that has led 

 to th(> diminution of these birds, and may some day lead to their 

 extermination. 



Fig. io. 



The Nightt.'\R {Coprimulgus europceus, Linn.). 



The Nightjar is a member of the large and well-defined family 

 Caprimulgidce, which ranges over most parts of the world. The 

 genus Caprimiilgus alone contains some 70 species. 



Our own bird — which, for all practical purposes, we may consider 

 to be the only Nightjar which visits this country — has a large number 

 of vulgar and provincial names ; most of these have an evil signifi- 

 cance, entirely unjustified by the habits of the bird. 



The generic name, Caprimiilgus signifies a "goat-milker": 

 hence, " Goat-sucker." Aristotle's alyo-6rika<; has a like meaning.* 



"^\g\\i-haivk" is another common name which has from time 

 immemorial brought the bird into disrepute with ignorant keepers. 

 Again, " Fern-owl " and " Churn-owl " are popular names, though 

 there is nothing of the Owl about the bird, except its crepuscular 

 habits and soft plumage. 



Finally, " r)or-hawk," or, as we say in Suffolk, " Doy-hawk," 

 may be mentioned. This is a fair name, so far as it goes, for the bird 

 pursues the dor-beetle [Geotrupes stercorariits) among other insects ! 

 But if all insect-eating birds are to be labelled hawks, who shall 

 escape a whipping ? 



* " History of .Animals," l.x-30-2 : " It flies to the goats and sucks them, whence its name, 

 oi7o9r,A.as. They say that when the udder has been sucked, it gives no more milk, and that the 

 goat becomes blind." — Editor. 



