258 NIGHTJAR. 



by the Red-necked Nightjar, C. riificoUis. One of its Hnes of 

 migration from Africa crosses Malta, where large numbers are shot 

 for the table in spring. It also visits Asia Minor, Palestine, Persia, 

 Turkestan — where its plumage shows a tendency to paleness — and 

 North-western India. Small numbers are said to remain in North 

 Africa during the winter, at which season it occurs in Arabia, and, 

 apparently, throughout South Africa down to Natal. 



The eggs, 2 in number, are placed on the bare ground or short 

 moss, and often on dead gorse-needles in open patches among furze. 

 They are oblong, equally rounded at each end ; and are creamy- 

 white, marbled and veined in endless variety with brownish-black 

 and purplish-grey : average measurements i'2 by "85 in. Fresh eggs 

 have been found as late as August 12th. The nestlings are at first 

 covered with a thick greyish down and have been known to display 

 a precocious activity approaching that of the young of Gallinaceous 

 and other ground-breeding birds ; but they are dependent upon their 

 parents for food, and do not attempt to feed themselves in confine- 

 ment. The Nightjar lives entirely upon insects, which it may be 

 seen to take upon the wing in the twilight or when the moon is 

 shining, though it hawks for them on dark nights as well ; it is not, 

 however, averse to light and is fond of basking in places where the 

 rays of the sun fall. The whirring which accompanies its twisting 

 flight is caused by the wings, which are sometimes brought into con- 

 tact and produce a loud noise ; but the well-known, vibrating ' churr ' 

 is believed to be uttered by the male only, and while the bird is 

 stationary. When reposing on a branch it sits lengthways, with the 

 head lower than the body. The use of the serrated claw has yet to 

 be determined. From early times and in almost every European 

 language the Nightjar has been stigmatized by some name equiva- 

 lent to ' Goat-sucker/ while in England the equally unfortunate 

 designation of ' Night-hawk ' brings it under the ban of the game- 

 keeper; it is also called ' Fern-owl,' and ' Churn-owl.' 



In the adult male the general plumage is ashy-grey, streaked, 

 spotted and barred with dark brown and reddish-buff; on the throat 

 are some white patches ; near the centre of each of the three outer 

 primaries are well-developed white spots ; and the two lateral pairs 

 of tail-feathers are broadly tipped with white. These white spots on 

 the wings and tail are wanting in the female, and her tints are less 

 rufous. Length about 10 in. ; wing 7-25 in. In the young the 

 serration of the claw of the middle toe is not pronounced, and the 

 wing- and tail-spots in the male have a huffish tint. 



