NIGHT/JAR 639 
genera Caprimulgus, Antrostomus, Nyctidromus, and others, and the 
latter. Podager, Chordiles, Lyncornis, and a few more. 
The common Nightjar of Europe, C. ewropexus, arrives late in 
spring from its winter retreat in Africa, and its presence is soon 
made known to us by its habit of chasing its prey, consisting chiefly 
of moths and cockchafers, in the evening-twilight. As the season 
advances the song of the cock, from its singularity, attracts attention 
amid all rural sounds, It seems to be always uttered when the 
bird is at rest, though the contrary has been asserted, and is the 
continuous repetition of a single burring note, as of a thin lath fixed 
at one end and in a state of vibration at the other, loud enough 
to reach in still weather a distance of half-a-mile or more. On the 
dds 
Wise 
Nicatsar, Caprimulgus europxus. 
wing, while toying with its mate, or performing its rapid evolutions 
round the trees where it finds its food, the bird has the habit of 
oceasionally producing another and equally extraordinary sound, 
sudden and short, but somewhat resembling that made by swinging 
a thong in the air, though in what way this noise is produced is not 
ascertained. In general its flight is silent, but at times when 
disturbed from its repose, its wings may be heard to smite together. 
The Nightjar or, to use perhaps its commoner English name, 
Goatsucker,! passes the day in slumber, crouching on the ground or 
perching on a tree—in the latter case sitting not across the branch 
but lengthways, with its head lower than its body. In hot weather, 
however, its song may sometimes be heard by day and even at 
noontide, but it is then uttered, as it were, drowsily, and without the 
1 Other English names of the bird are Churn-Owl, Evejar, Fern-Owl, Night- 
Hawk, Puckeridge and Wheel-bird—the last from the bird’s song resembling the 
noise made by a spinning-wheel in motion. 
