BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 149 



Contmou migbtjar 



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The Common Nightjar ^Caprimulgiis Eiiropceus^ Linnaeus) 

 is another of our latest summer visitors to the British Isles. 

 It is also found during summer in the Western Palearctic 

 Region, and in winter goes to Africa and India. The 

 adult male has the general colouration of the plumage of an 

 ashy-grey, spotted and streaked with dark brown, yellowish- 

 brown, and reddish-buff; wings, dark brown, tinged slightly 

 with chestnut, and showing three bars of yellowish-brown ; 

 the primaries have a large white patch near the centre of 

 the three first quill feathers of each wing; tail, marked with 

 zigzag bars of black, yellowish-brown, and grey ; two outer 

 rectrices on each side, tipped with white ; on each side of 

 the throat is a white spot; under parts, light orange-buff, 

 barred with dusky ; irides and bill, black ; legs and feet, 

 brownish-red. Length, ten inches. The female is duller; 

 white spots on the tail and wings very indistinct. 



