CHAPTER XIV 



THE NIGHTJARS, SWIFTS, AND HUMMING-BIRDS 



Orders— CAPRIMULGI, CYPSELI 



Though at first sight no one would suppose so, yet it is now an 

 established fact that the Nightjars are near relatives of the Owls. 

 They may be regarded, indeed, as representing the ancestral stock 

 from which the Owls descended. 



The most striking feature of the Nightjars is the huge size of the 

 mouth, and the remarkably small beak, which is fringed on either 

 side by long, stiff bristles. These birds also have large eyes, and 

 extremely small feet. The former are necessary, because the food is 

 largely sought during the twilight hours ; while the smallness of the 

 feet is due to the fact that all their food is procured while on the 

 wing, and when not flying they remain motionless, either squatting 

 on the ground or along the bough of some tall tree. We say along 

 the bough advisedly, for these birds are peculiar in that they do not 

 perch like other birds, with the body across the bough, but along it. 

 This unusual method of perching is adopted for protective purposes. 

 For the plumage, which is always of some brown hue, pale or dark, 

 is, as it were, freckled or powdered with grey, thereby enabling the 

 bird so closely to harmonise with its surroundings as to become well- 

 nigh invisible. 



The Common Nightjar (Plate XXI. fig. 6) is not only a well- 

 known British bird, but is one dear to all lovers of country life. One 

 of the latest of our summer visitors, and one of the earliest to leave, 

 this bird adds greatly to the charm of the sultry days of summer- 

 time by its wondrous flight and still more wonderful " churring " 

 note. 



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