70 ‘THE BIRDS OF BRECONSHIRE. 
beautiful and fairy-like flight of the 
Nightjar. 
It is well known to naturalists in 
Wales, and is a beautiful bird, feeding 
exclusively on night insects, such as 
moths, beetles, cockchafers, &c., and is, 
in fact, the swallow of the night. Its 
evolutions in its flight when it is hawk- 
ing, if I may use the expression, for its 
food, are perfectly wonderful; turning, 
gliding, and circling in the most graceful 
manner, and in the utmost silence, 
except when uttering its weird, jarring 
cry, that, once heard, can never be for- 
gotten. This cry is usually uttered as 
the bird sits lengthways on a _ branch, 
and it is said that it never sits cross- 
ways. 
Nature, in her never-erring bounty, has 
provided the Night-jar with a very large 
mouth with which to take its food. 
Several strong bristles project downwards 
from the edge of the mandible, forming, 
when the bird opens its mouth, a perfect 
insect trap; and, in order to clear its 
mouth and its bristles from the various 
portions of insects that may adhere to 
