NIGHTJAR. 383 



wliicli is further guarded against by the lateral position of 

 the hind-toes — and remarks in corroboration of this theory 

 that some exotic Nightjars, of the genera Podargiis and 

 Mgotheles especially, which have the middle claw smooth 

 and the hind-toe directed backwards, perch across the branch 

 on which they sit. Amid all these suppositions it seems 

 best to confess that the true function of the organ has yet to 

 be determined, the last being perhaps the most plausible, 

 though not applying to all birds similarly furnished. 



The Nightjar makes no nest whatever, but lays its two* 

 eggs on the ground, sometimes choosing the bare soil, but 

 nearly as often placing them on lichen or moss of short 

 growth. After incubation has made some progress, a slight 

 hollow, caused no doubt by the weight of the sitting bird 

 (light though it be) is perceptible ; but there is no sign of 

 any depression being formed intentionally, nor is any shelter 

 sought. Yet markless as the spot may be, it is often used 

 year after year by the mother, the eggs being laid within a 

 few inches of where their predecessors of the summer before 

 had been deposited. So far as is actually known, only one 

 brood, accidents excepted, is produced in the season, but 

 since eggs may be found from the end of May to the end of 

 July — or even in August (Journ. f. Orn. 1860, p. 472) — a 

 second seems to be occasionally possible. They are generally 

 laid about the beginning of June, and are of elongated 

 form, having both ends nearly equal, white, sometimes 

 tinged with cream -colour, blotched, mottled, clouded or 

 veined, in wonderful variety, with brownish-black, lighter 

 brown or lilac-grey of different shades, t and measure from 

 1-34 to 1-08 by from -89 to -78 in. The young when hatched 

 are covered with down, and, though remaining for some days 

 in their birth-place, can, it would seem, at an early age dis- 



* Mr. P. Barfclett records (Zool. p. 445) the finding of two young birds and 

 one egg in a "nest" ; but there is nothing to shew that all were the offspring of 

 one mother. 



f No reasonable person can doubt the protective nature of the colouring of 

 these eggs, exposed as they are to innumerable dangers. Some species of Night- 

 jars are said to remove their eggs in their mouth if they have been found and 

 handled. The Editor cannot find proof that our own bird takes this precaution, 

 VOL. II. 3 D 



