RACE! 
middle of May and leaving in September, but. it has been known to stay in the south-west of 
England as late as November. 
This harmless, interesting bird is, alas! too often shot down in the mistaken belief that 
it is a hawk. 
IV. Food. 
Cockchafers, moths, and nightflying insects. 
VY. Characteristics. 
Like the owl, the Nightjar possesses the peculiar habit of ejecting from the mouth 
pellets consisting of the indigestible remains of the food it has swallowed, and it is likewise 
a nocturnal bird, hunting for its food when the sun is below the horizon. 
During the day it sits quietly in a sheltered spot on the ground, or perches lengthways 
along a bough, and not across it. 
There are large bristles on the gapes, and at the side of the middle toe there is a horny 
development divided into slits, which are supposed to be for the purpose either of clearing off 
parasitical insects with which this bird is infested, or for the better clinging on to the sides of 
a branch when seated longways upon it, or for cleaning the bristles on the gape from the 
débris of wiaged insects, but it is not yet definitely known for what this serrated claw is used. 
VI. Protection. 
Wild Birds Act, 1880.—This bird appears in the schedule, which applies to every 
county in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Any owner, occupier, or other 
person taking, killing, etc., a Nightjar during close season,* or possessing or 
selling a Nightjar after 15th March, penalty £1 for each bird. 
Wild Birds Act, 1894.—Its eggs are protected at present (1896) in the following 
counties or specified breeding areas in counties : f— 
Enexanp.—I. Durham; Northumberland, specified breeding area, Holy 
Island; Yorks., E. Riding, specified breeding area, Promontory of Spurn, including 
Kilnsea Warren. II. Bedford; Cambridge, specified breeding area, Wicken Sedge Fen ; 
Chester, specified breeding area, Hundred of Wirrall; Gloucester; Leicester ; Lincoln, 
(Kesteven and Lindsey); Norfolk, specified breeding area (1), Hickling, Ormesby, 
Rollesby, Hemsby, Filby and Burgh Broads ; (2) North Wotton and Cley-next-the- 
Sea; Northampton; Stafford; East Suffolk, specified breeding area, sea coast from 
River Blyth to Languard Point; West Suffolk; Warwick; Worcester. ILI. Devon; 
Essex, specified breeding area, Shoeburyness, and three tidal rivers; Hertford; Isle of 
Wight; Kent, five specified breeding areas; Metropolitan Police District, including 
London and Middlesex. 
Wates—Brecon; Pembroke. 
Scottanp—Aberdeen ; Dumbarton; Dumfries; Elgin; Kircudbright; Wigtown. 
JrELAND—Roscommon. 
Any owner, occupier, or other person taking or destroying a Nightjar’s eggs, penalty £1 
for each egg. Its eges are white, marbled and clouded with grey and brown, and measure 
about 1,8, x 3%, inches. 
* Generally from 1st March to 31st July; but in some counties from 1st February to 31st August in each 
year. A further period may again be obtained through the Act of 1896 as in Middlesex. 
+ It is expected that other counties will before long obtain similar orders of protection under the Act of 
1894. 
