2 6o CAPRIMULGID.^. 



THE EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR. 



Caprimulcus vEgyptius, Lichtenstein, 



On June 23rd 1883 a gamekeeper in the employ of Mr. J. 

 Whitaker, of Rainworth Lodge, near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, 

 shot a Nightjar, the light colour of which attracted his attention ; 

 and on his mentioning the fact to his master who takes a special in- 

 terest in albinisms and pale varieties, the bird, which had meanwhile 

 undergone very rough treatment and then been thrown aside, was 

 carefully inspected. When submitted to competent authorities it 

 proved to be an example of the Egyptian or Isabelline Nightjar 

 (Zool. 1883, p. 374). 



The occurrence of this south-eastern species in Europe is not un- 

 precedented, Mr. Seebohm having discovered in the shop of the 

 principal bird-stuffer in Heligoland, a specimen (now in the collec- 

 tion of Mr. Giitke) shot on June 22nd 1875, which had been passed 

 over as a pale variety of the Common Nightjar. Subsequently 

 Professor Giglioli recognized three examples in the Museum of the 

 University of Malta, obtained in 1876 ; and in Sicily a bird which 

 was probably an Egyptian Nightjar was shot at Girgenti, while an 

 undoubted specimen was obtained at Modica in 1879. ^^^ breed- 

 ing-places are the sandy parts of Turkestan, Baluchistan, Egypt and 

 Nubia ; its winter-quarters appear to be still further south. 



The eggs, 2 in number as is usual in this family, are described by 

 Von Heuglin as smaller, paler and more yellow in tint than those 

 of our well-known species, and are placed m a mere depression 

 in the sand or under a low, stunted bush. The old bird sits very 

 closely and rises unwillingly, often running along with puffed-out 

 throat from one bush to another, uttering meanwhile a curious note. 

 Captain Shelley found flocks in Egypt in spring and autumn, and 

 it would appear that the sexes separate on migration. 



The plumage of the adult is sandy-grey finely marked with black, 

 the pattern being generally the same as in the Common Nightjar ; 

 there are, however, no white spots on the upper surface of the tail 

 or wings, but the inside webs of the primaries are pure white. 

 Length 10 "5 in. ; wing 8'i in. 



For the reasons mentioned on the preceding page, I have not 

 considered it expedient to give a wood-cut of this species ; it is 

 well figured in Mr. Dresser's,' Birds of Europe,' vol. iv. pi. 262. 



