CAPRIMULGIDiE. 269 



THE RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR. 



Caprimul(;us ruficollis, Temminck, 



A freshly-killed example of this southern species was recognized 

 in the flesh by that eminent ornithologist, the late John Hancock, 

 in the shop of Mr. Pape, at Newcastle, on October 6th 1856. It 

 was stated to have been shot the previous day at Killingworth, and 

 is now in the Newcastle Museum. 



Up to the present time the Red-necked Nightjar has not been 

 noticed elsewhere in Northern Europe ; but in Languedoc and Pro- 

 vence, in the south-east of France, it has been obtained on several 

 occasions. Though not yet recorded from the mainland of Italy, 

 one was taken at Spalato, Dalmatia, in March 1875, and Mr. 

 C. A. ^Vright has mentioned two captures in Malta during May, in 

 different years. In summer this species is common in the southern 

 half of the Spanish Peninsula, where it frequents the cool chequered 

 shade of the woods during the greater part of the day ; it is also 

 said to be a regular visitor to some of the Canary Islands ; while 

 eastward it is found throughout North Africa as far as Tunisia. 



The eggs, 2 in number, are placed on the bare ground, and 

 resemble those of our Common Nightjar ; on average they are less 

 boldly marked, and are also a trifle larger, as might be expected 

 from the superior size of the bird. I am not aware of any distinctive 

 points deserving mention as regards the food and habits. 



In general pattern of coloration the Red-necked Nightjar resembles 

 the preceding species, but its tint is paler, and is more rufous on the 

 wings as well as the under parts ; a conspicuous tawny collar encir- 

 cles the head, and the throat exhibits large white patches ; the white 

 spots on the three outer primaries increase in size with the age of the 

 bird, and are small and tinged with buff in the young. These 

 patches are not confined to the male, as they are in our Nightjar, 

 but are common to both sexes, and there is no perceptible difference 

 in plumage ; the two lateral pairs of tail-feathers are broadly tipped 

 with white. Length 12 in. ; wing 7 "8 in. 



It has not been considered necessary to give an illustration of 

 this rare visitor, nor would a wood-cut do justice to its distinctive 

 charat;ters. Coloured illustrations are in Gould's ' Birds of Great 

 Britain,' Mr. Dresser's ' Birds of Europe,' and the late Lord Lilford's 

 ' Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands.' 



