276 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. ^ 



Needle-tailed Swift. ChcEtura caudacuta (Latham). 



On two occasions this eastern Siberian Swift has wandered 

 to England ; one was obtained in Essex in 1846, and two were 

 seen and one shot in Hampshire in 1879 5 both occurred in 

 July. It winters in Australia, and the birds must have been 

 hopelessly lost during return migration ; it has not been noted 

 elsewhere in Europe. 



The Needle-tailed Swift gets its name from the spiny pro- 

 jecting shafts of the tail feathers ; it differs from the other two 

 Swifts in having one toe turned backwards. It is a brown- 

 backed bird with metallic green gloss on its dark head, wings 

 and tail. It has a dull white forehead, and the throat and 

 breast are white, the belly brown. Length, 8 ins. Wing, S'l 

 ins. Tarsus, 7 in. 



Sub-order CAPRIMULGI. 



Family CAPRIMULGID^. Nightjars. 



Anatomically the Nightjars are very similar to the Swifts, 

 but in the soft plumage, crepuscular or nocturnal habits, they 

 approach the Owls. They have a pectinated or combed middle 

 claw, and the wide gape is provided with strong bristles. 



Nightjar or Goatsucker. Caprimulgus eui-opcetis Linn. 



The Nightjar (Plate 113), one of our later migrants, seldom 

 appears before the end of April or beginning of May. It 

 occurs throughout northern and central Europe, and winters in 

 Africa, even so far south as the Cape. In southern Europe, 

 Africa and Asia it is replaced by allied forms. In the British 

 Isles it occurs in all suitable localities, but in the Shetlandsand 



