CAPRIMULGUS KUnoP.EUS 35 



others contend that it is anything but stupid, but on the contrary, 

 most intelhgent, and particularly clever in eluding pursuit and 

 escaping from its enemies. Hence, in Sicily the bird goes by the 

 name of " Nganna-fuoddi," or " the deceiver of the foolish." 



The fact probably is that, as in the case of some other species, the 

 Nightjar's sight is not suited to the strong daj'light, and that when 

 observed in the daytime, the bird's behaviour and movements appear 

 somewhat strange. Its rapid twisting flight is, however, easily 

 explained by the nature of the insects it pursues. 



The Nightjar's usual " churrinq " note is uttered by the bird when 

 resting. When flying it is said to utter a sharp whistle, and also 

 to clap its wings together quite audibly. It is fond of settling in 

 the middle of a bare road or pathway, and if undisturbed, will remain 

 there motionless for a considerable length of time. 



The species makes no nest, but deposits its eggs, two in number, 

 on the bare ground, or in a slight hollow, among the undergrowth of 

 a wood or plantation. 



The eggs are considerably elongated in shape, and are of a glossy 

 greyish-white colour, streaked and marbled with violet-grey and brown. 

 Average measurements 29 X 21 mm. 



The Nightjar which breeds in Tunisia has been separated subspeci- 

 fically from typical C. europmns on the ground that it differs from that 

 species both in size and coloration. I have in my collection from 

 Tunis no Nightjars obtained later than the month of April, and am 

 not therefore perhaps in a position to speak authoritatively on this 

 point. The specimens I have from the Regency, and which I have 

 compared with South European examples, do not certainly differ from 

 the latter either in size or coloration, and cannot be referred to any- 

 thing but C. europmns. Both in size as well as in shade of colouring 

 I may observe there is a certain amount of individual variation in this 

 species, and in a series of some thirty specimens from Sicily at present 

 before me some examples are dark and others pale, while the length of 

 the wing in males varies from 740 to 8'10 indies, and in females 

 from 7-50 to 8-30 inches. 



