44 FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



large picture the bird is sitting on its eggs amongst the 

 debris of leaves, twigs, &c, and can be located near the 

 centre of the picture. Some searching will be necessary 

 to find the bird, even in the photograph, so the degree of 

 perfection to which the protective value of the plumage is 

 developed in the living bird can well be imagined. 



The bird sits very close and still when incubating. In 

 the case of the photograph of the Nightjar sitting on its 

 eggs, three exposures were made extending over a period 

 of ninety minutes, as it was thought that the bird might 



Fig. 22. — Young South African Nightjar. 



assume different positions, but it remained so still that no 

 difference could be detected in the three exposures made. 



In the Central Transvaal the commonest species is the 

 Eufous-cheeked Nightjar (C. rufigena), whose name serves 

 to point out the bird's most distinguishing feature. 



The European Nightjar (C. europeus) wends its way to 

 South Africa during our summer. 



The Nightjars lay two eggs on the ground without any 

 attempt at nest-building, consequently the protective nature 

 of the bird's coloration is of great benefit to the sitting parent. 



