CAPRIMULGID.V.. 



THE NIGHTJAR. 



Caprimulgus europ.4:us, Linn^us. 



The Nightjar is the latest of our regular summer migrants in its 

 arrival, being seldom noticed before the middle of INIay ; and it 

 usually leaves us in September, although in the mild south-west of 

 England it has been known to remain until November. Unculti- 

 vated ground more or less covered with ferns, and the cool shade 

 of woodland glades, are its favourite haunts, and it is consequently 

 somewhat local ; but it is generally distributed as far as the northern 

 extremity of the mainland of Scotland, and also in the western 

 islands, except the Outer Hebrides, to which, as to the Orkneys and 

 Shetlands, it is only a straggler. In Ireland it is rather common in 

 some of the southern and central counties, but less frequent in the 

 north and west. 



The Nightjar sometimes visits the Faeroes, and in Scandinavia it 

 has been found nesting up to about 63° N. lat. ; but in Russia its 

 range is less extensive, while eastward it does not reach beyond 

 Irkutsk in Siberia. This bird is found throughout the summer over 

 the greater part of Europe, down to the high grounds of Central 

 Spain ; but in the south of that country, although common on pas- 

 sage, I do not think that it remains to breed, its place being taken 



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