OWLS AND OWL-LIKE BIRDS. 175 



at the ends of the three outermost long flight-feathers ; 

 tail long, dark, with large white spots at ends of outer 

 feathers ; head broad and flattened, with short, flat, 

 black bill. Summer migrant. 



Eggs. — 2, creamy- white, marbled with two shades 

 of brown and with gray ; rounded at both ends ; 

 1-2 X -85 inch (plate 128). 



Nest. — Practically none, the eggs being laid on the 

 ground among a few bits of dead fern-stalks or gorse, 

 in a hollow of the turf on grassy slopes, or upon any 

 flat patch in lieaps of quarry debris, &c. 



Distribution. — Throughout the British Isles in 

 suitable places, but rare in north and west of Ireland. 



Arriving in May, the Nightjar distributes itself 

 throughout the British Isles, generally frequenting 

 open ground, preferably stony places and moorland 

 covered with bracken. From its habit of nesting in 

 the latter, its soft, mottled plumage, noiseless flight, 

 and its somewhat owlish face, with great round black 

 eyes, it has also been called the Fern-Owl. Mottling 

 apart, the general tone of the bird's plumage is gray, 

 and of so neutral a cast as to render it practically 

 invisible when among the drab-coloured stones or 

 rusty remnants of bracken upon which it lies. When 

 the bird is sleeping in such situations during the day- 

 time, often quite exposed to view, the head, with its 

 small depressed bill, presents the appearance of that 

 of a toad ; or the whole bird, lying almost flat to the 

 ground, with long, depressed tail, looks like a lizard. 

 If disturbed, it springs up with a single flick of its 

 wings, and clearing the nearest obstacle with a 

 peculiar glancing, noiseless flight, drops to earth at 



