434 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



237. — Sand Martin [Ufehsciiwalbe]. 

 HIRUNDO RIPARIA, Linn.i 



Heligolandisli : Liitj grii .Swi)alk = /S'?)irt/Z Grey Hwallow. 



Hirundo riparia. Naumann, vi. icx). 



Sand Martin. Dresser, iii. 505. 



Hirondelle de rivagc. Teiiiiniiick, Manuel, i. 429, iii. 300. 



This, the smallest of European Swallows, both during the spring 

 and autumn migrations, is of quite common, often very abundant 

 occurrence. Thus thousands and tens of thousands of these birds 

 were among those which perished through the severity of the 

 weather on the 30th of May 1S.55, as already I'elated under 

 No. 235. 



The breeding ranoe of this little bird is amonar the most exten- 

 sive in the whole of the bird-world. It stretches from Portugal 

 and north-west Africa as far as China, and from Alaska to New- 

 foundland ; while in its latitudinal range it extends to the Far 

 North of Europe and Asia on the one side, and the most southern 

 of the United States of America on the other. 



Nightjar, or Goat'iucker — Caprimulgus. — The genus of these 

 peculiar birds is represented by a greater or smaller number of 

 species in all parts of the world. ( )ne of them, Caprhnidgus 

 europccus, occurs throughout the whole of Europe, and is also of 

 quite connnon occurrence in Heligoland. Besides this, C. cegyptitis, 

 which is a native of Africa and portions of Asia, has occurred here 

 once — a great rarity. C. ruficollis, however, which is a resident 

 of western Europe, has not jet been observed here. Jerdon gives 

 no less than eight species as natives of India. 



238. — Nightjar [Ziegenmelker]. 

 CAPRIMULGUS EUROP/EUS, Linn. 



Heligolandisli : N;\chtscliwalber = iS%/(? Swallow.- 



Caprimidgus europitus. Naumann, vi. 141. 



Ooatsucker. Dresser, iv. 621. 



Egoulevert ordinaire. Temminck, Maniu!, i. 436, iii. 304. 



On warm calm days from May to the middle of June, this 

 peculiar bird may be seen squatting close to the ground with its 

 eye^ almost shut, in sliady places, in gardens, or along the base of 



' Co/ij/e rijmrin (Linn.). - Compare English name, Niijhljar. 



