1889-90] Stray Notes on the Birds of Anglesea. 369 



unless lie could fly alougside and follow every erratic motion 

 of the bird ? The vicinity of the pond afore-mentioned was 

 perhaps about the best place to view the night-jar to advan- 

 tage, and on favourable nights, when many insects were on 

 the wing, the whole country-side seemed to swarm with the 

 birds. This latter impression was, however, more apparent 

 than real, as the numbers were in reality not great, only as 

 they were constantly shifting their quarters, the sound came 

 from so many different directions as to lead one to suppose that 

 the birds were entirely separate, whereas in all probability 

 four or five pairs at most frequented the immediate surround- 

 ings. The note is most peculiar, and perfectly unique of its 

 kind, resembling nothing so much as the " birling" noise made 

 by a threshing-machine, or the droning vibration caused by 

 various kinds of machinery in motion. It has a most pene- 

 trating effect, and on a calm night is perfectly audible at a 

 distance of half a mile ; but when near at hand it seems to 

 rise and fall, becoming intense at one moment, only to be 

 modulated the next by a sort of cadence, but all the time the 

 vibration accompanies the performance. The note seems to 

 be made only when the bird is sitting, but whether solely 

 confined to that period or also exercised when in flight, is a 

 j)oint upon which I do not feel competent to give an opinion. 

 To be appreciated it should be heard on a still evening just 

 at the darkening, and if for the first time, the resiilt is almost 

 startling, more especially as the sound has the effect of ventri- 

 loquism, probably caused by the bird moving its head about 

 while singing, if such a noise can be dignified by that name. 

 In addition to this well-known vocalism, the night-jar gives 

 utterance to a shrill scream, but, judging from somewhat 

 limited experience, I am inclined to believe this is not resorted 

 to save in cases of fear, as it rarely, if ever, vents this note 

 except when approached unexpectedly, and in such a manner 

 as to cause fright. 



A very few words about the position of the bird when 

 perched wiU finish this cursory sketch of an interesting 

 species. Unlike other birds to which we are accustomed in 

 this country, it does not sit across a branch or rail, but squats 

 lengthwise, consequently it is at all times, but more particu- 

 larly in the twilight, most diificult to observe, as it lies very 



