NIGHTJAR AND NUTHATCH 



69 



Hawk, 



eater, Nightchar, Night-Churr, Night Crow, Night 

 Nocturnal Goatsucker, Puckeridge, Wheel Bird. 



Haunt. — Woods, and clearings near same. 



Nesting Period. — End of May and June. 



Site of Nest. — On the bare ground, sometimes hidden by bracken. 



Materials Used. — None. 



Eggs. — Two. White, marbled and mottled with grey of various 

 shades, as well as black and faint lilac. 

 Oval in shape. 



Food. — Large night-flying insects, such as 

 the cockchafer and other beetles ; also 

 moths. 



Voice. — A curious vibrating note, uttered 

 while the bird is perched on the branch 

 of a tree. 



Chief Features. — A Summer Migrant, arriv- 

 ing from Africa and India towards the 

 end of May. Nocturnal in habits, the 

 parents squat on the ground during the 

 day, coming out at nightfall. A re- 

 markable bird upon the wing, and has 

 the habit of bringing its wings right over its back. This causes 

 a noise like a pistol shot. The Nightjar has a serrated claw, 

 by means of which it can secure insects upon the wing. It also 

 has a hairy mouth, short beak, and flat head. 



Plumage. — Ash-grey, barred and spotted with brown, black, and 

 chestnut; a large white patch on the inner web of the first 

 three primaries, and tips of white on each side of the two outer 

 tail-feathers. Length. — Ten inches and a quarter. 



Fig. 24. Head and Foot 

 of Nightjar. 



NUTHATCH (Sitta ccesia) 

 Local Names. — European Nuthatch, Jar-Bird, Jobbin, Mud-Dabber, 



Mudstopper, Nutcracker, Nuthack, Nutjobber, Nut-Tapper, 



Woodcracker. 

 Haunt. — Woods, parks, and large gardens. 

 Nesting Period. — April to July. 

 Site of Nest. — A hole in a tree, which is plastered with mud so as to 



form just sufficient entrance for the bird. 

 Materials Used. — Dry leaves, chips of wood, flakes of bark, etc. 

 Eggs. — Six or Seven. White, spotted with red-brown. They are 



very similar to those of the Great Tit. 

 Food. — Insects, nuts, acorns, beech-mast, and berries. 

 Voice. — A "twit-whit" and "whit, whit, whit;" also "pip, pip, 



pip." The notes are varied, and often deceive the listener. In 



