CLAPPING OF WINGS 23 



generally, a little behind. The claps are wonder- 

 fully loud and distinct — musical they always sound 

 to me — and I believe, myself, that they are almost as 

 sexual in their character as is the bleating of the 

 snipe. The habit has, indeed, become now so 

 thoroughly ingrained that any sudden emotion, as, 

 say, surprise or fear, is apt to call it forth, of 

 which principle, in nature, many illustrations might 

 be given ; but it is when two or more birds are 

 sporting together — or when one, after a long bout of 

 " churring," springs from the tree, and, especially, in 

 a swift, downward flight to the ground, where its 

 mate is probably reclining — that one hears it in 

 its perfection. Why so little has been said about 

 this very marked and noticeable peculiarity, why a 

 work of high authority should only tell us that '' in 

 general its flight is silent, but at times, when 

 disturbed from its repose, its wings may be heard 

 to smite together," I really do not know. The 

 expression used suggests that the sound made by 

 the smiting of the wings is but slight, whereas 

 one would have to be fairly deaf not to hear it. 

 And why only ''when disturbed".^ Under such 

 circumstances the performance will always be a 

 poor one, but it is not by startling the bird, but 

 by waiting, unseen and silent, that one is likely to 

 hear it in its perfection, and then not alarm or 

 disquietude, but joy will have produced it — it is a 

 glad ebullition. 



The domestic habits of the nightjar are very 

 pretty and interesting. No bird can be more 

 exemplary in its conjugal relations, and in its care 

 and charge of the young. Both husband and wife 



