170 BRITISH BIRDS' XESTS. 



miinis any reddisli-brown, which colour upon the 

 greenish-bhie produces olive-browu. Sometimes the 

 brown is disposed in a kind of cap at one or other 

 of the ends of the egg, or in streaks. Size about 

 •85 by -6 in. 



Time. — May and June. 



Bemarls. — Migratory, arriving in April and leaving 

 in August. Notes: call, 2)i(y>', J^ifir, and something 

 like ivlieet ! Bechstein rendering it witf, l-rr, and 

 adding that it has a note of enjoyment represented 

 by a deep tacl\ Its song is uttered both by day 

 and night, and is ravishingly sweet and melodious. 

 Local and other names : Philomel. Sits closely, 

 and slips away without demonstration. 



NIGHTJAR. Also Goatsuckep. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about ten 

 and a half inches. Bill very short, upper mandible 

 slightly turned downward, flexible, and dusky black. 

 The gape is very wide, and furnished on the upper 

 side with a number of stiff bristles. The plumage 

 on the upper part of the body consists of a beauti- 

 fully diversified mixture of brown, black, rusty- red, 

 and white, spotted and sprinkled with grey. The 

 under-parts greyish and rusty-brown, barred and 

 freckled with dark brown. There are a few white 

 markinos round the throat. On the three first 

 quill-feathers of the wings is an oval white spot, 

 also on the two outside feathers of the tail. Legs 

 short, rough, scaly, and feathered to below the knee. 

 Middle toe considerably longer than the rest, and 

 the claw upon it is serrated on one side; all orange- 

 brown . 



Situation and Localitij. — On the ground beneath 



