394 Mr. C. F. M. Swyuuertou on the 



niassce, where their coloration renders them very difficult to 

 detect. Two nestlings, taken near Chiriuda, were brought 

 to me on October 20th, bat I only succeeded in keeping 

 them alive for two weeks, feeding them chiefly on Melo- 

 lonthid larvse. They were grave stolid little fellows and 

 remarkably pretty. Their cry when hungry strongly 

 resembled tliat of the adult of C. trhnaculatus , but was of 

 course far weaker. The bill was deep sepia- coloured, the 

 irides deep rich umber, and the feet light purplish grey, all 

 these parts being lighter than in the adult bird. The nest, 

 which I inspected, was again a mere unliued hollow in the 

 ground. A stomach of this species contained beetles and 

 spiders. A male measured 10"3 inches in the flesh and two 

 females 9*35 and 9"55. 



159. Caprimulgus trimaculatus. Freckled Nightjar. 



Rh. 1 have come across this Nightjar fairly frequently 

 during the past year in the neighbourhood of Chiriuda, 

 where it may frequently be found settling at dusk in the 

 centre of the road, or frequenting short cattle-pasture for 

 the sake of the coprophilous beetles attracted thereto. It is 

 readily distinguished by its large size and its peculiar call, 

 a very loud liquid " kwa-kweu " (with the stress on the " e "), 

 sounding at a distance like " kyoo-kyoo ! " The birds called 

 nightly on the roofs of my buildings throughout August 

 1906, and are evidently somewhat exclusive, as during that 

 time none of the two smaller species of Nightjars which 

 usually frequent the homestead were heard to call within 

 two or three hundred yards. 



The stomachs examined have contained beetles, large and 

 small, chiefly Melolonthidse and Scarabs (including Diastel- 

 lopalpus) and in one case locusts and moth-ova as well. 



In the upper mandible the tip is black, the nostrils 

 blackish, and the remainder ashy grey. In the lower the 

 extreme tip is also black and the rest light purplish grey. 

 The feet are dusky grey with a tinge of purple, the iris dark 

 umber, the eyelids very pale ochreous bi'own, and the claws 

 dusky, the pectination being paler and tinged with purple. 

 Two males measured 10*75 inches each in the flesh. 



