42 CAPRIMULGID^E. 



some small heap of asbes produced by the Burgas (Badayas) 

 burning weeds in their fields. The eggs are two in number, of a 

 fine, salmon-coloured ground, marbled with a purplish brown, 

 which is very much toned down, appearing as if beneath the 

 surface of the shell.'' 



Miss Cockburn, writing from Kotagherry, remarks : " This 

 Xightjar never builds a nest, but lays her eggs (generally two 

 in number) on the bare ground, and occasionally on a rock, 

 where there is not the slightest appearance of anything resembling 

 a bush to shade the bird from the scorching rays of the sun 

 while engaged in the work of incubation. She evidently prefers 

 heat, and for this purpose chooses very warm localities. This 

 bird is often contented with only one egg, which it is supposed 

 to have the instinct to remove to another place, if looked at fre- 

 quently by man. The business of hatching is apparently left 

 entirely to the female, as she alone is seen near the eggs. The 

 Nightjar's eggs are found in the months of February, March, and 

 April. Some of them are perfectly oval, others are thicker at one 

 end than the other. I know of no bird's eggs whose colours fade 

 so very much if kept after being blown. When first taken, the 

 prevailing hue is a beautiful salmon colour witli large blotches of a 

 darker shade ; but in a short time they loose their freshness." 



Mr. E. Thompson says : " This Nightjar is found over all the 

 well-wooded Grhats of the Central Provinces. I found the eggs in 

 April, two in each case, laid on the bare ground under a bush : 

 the hen when flushed usually flew straight up into a tree. The eggs 

 were fleshy white, blotched with purplish-pink spots. Although 

 a good deal smaller, they were of the same shape as those of 

 C. albinotatus" 



I am indebted to Mr. F. Bourdillon for an egg of this species, 

 taken on the Assam boo Hills, which at the extreme south of India 

 divide Travancore and Tinnevelly. He says : " We obtained two 

 eggs, measuring respectively 1'12 and 1*17 by 0*87, on the 

 18th Feb., 1872. They rested in a slight nest of dry fern-leaves, 

 which was placed on the ground under a rock. The bird is a 

 very common one and goes by the name of the ' Ice-bird.' It 

 appears about sunset and on bright moonlight nights, and may be 

 heard at all hours until dawn. I have even heard it between 9 and 

 10 A.M., though what should keep it awake so late I do not know." 



Mr. Rhodes W. Morgan, writing from S. India, says : " Like 

 the preceding species, this breeds in March. The eggs are lighter 

 in colour, being of a pinkish buff, blotched with pale violet-brown. 

 On one occasion I found the eggs laid on a heap of ashes. The 

 dimensions of one in my collection are 1*11 inch in length by 0*82 

 in diameter across." 



The breeding-season of this species in Ceylon appears to be in 

 March and April. 



Some of the eggs of this species which have been sent me from 

 the Nilghiris by Miss Cockburn, Mr. Carter, and Mr. Davison, and 

 likewise from Eaepore by Mr. F. E. Blewitt, agree precisely with 



