NIGHTJAR. 



243 



forehead. Feet with three toes in front, one behinil ; the anterior toes united 

 as far as the first articulation, the hind toe reversible ; the claws short, except 

 that of tiie middle toe, which is long and serrated on the inner edge. Wings 

 long ; the first feather shorter than the second, which is the longest in the wing. 



The Nightjar, or Niglitcliurr, both names having refer- 

 ence to a particular noise made by the bird, which resembles 

 the sound of a spinning-wheel, — is, I believe, the only noc- 

 turnal bird among our summer visiters. It has been re- 

 marked that the Nightjars are among the Swallows what the 

 Owls are among the Falconida. These nocturnal, or night 

 Swallows, as they have been sometimes called, do not differ 

 much from the diurnal Swallows, either in their prey, or in 

 the mode of taking it ; but their habit of flying and taking 

 their prey on the wing during several hours both in the morn- 

 ing and in the evening, feeding almost entirely on cockchafers 

 and moths, is of great service to the agriculturist by thus 

 consuming the prolific source of innumerable grubs and cater- 

 pillars. 



The Nightjar, like the Swallow, comes to this country 

 from Africa. It is the latest arrival in order of date, except 

 the Spotted Flycatcher, not making its appearance here till 

 the middle of May, and generally leaves again by the end of 

 August or the middle of September, but remaining near a 

 month later in Italy before it seeks its winter quarters ; occa- 

 sionally, though very rarely, staying much longer here, since 

 Montagu mentions having shot one as late as the 8th of 

 November, 1805, in Devonshire; and Mr. Couch says that 

 one was shot in Cornwall, as if in departure, November 27, 

 1821. 



The Nightjar appears to prefer moors, heaths, and com- 

 mons that are partially covered with bushes and patches of 

 fern ; I have known them constantly frequent young wood of 

 one or two years' growth, and have observed that if disturbed 

 in such a situation they usually fly to the high wood. If 



