NIGHTJAR. 267 



Cleveland. It is scarce as a nesting species in the East Riding, 

 though it breeds annually near Market Weight on, Cliff Wood, 

 Holme on Spalding Moor, and Scampston. 



On the coast the Nightjar is observed on migration in 

 spring and autumn, most frequently at the latter season, 

 but individuals are met with annually at Spurn in May. I 

 have noticed it on its first arrival at Redcar, generally during 

 the prevalence of easterly winds, and on loth May 1901, 

 at 7 a.m., one flew into the garden behind my house ; it 

 has also been seen in the streets of Redcar ; one remained 

 in the neighbourhood of the Teesmouth for several days in 

 May 1902. Two examples, noted at Spurn on 28th July 

 1897, may have been birds on the return passage unusually 

 early. 



A curious instance is related by Ed. Blyth in Rennie's 

 " Field Naturalist," 1833, of a Nightjar coming on board 

 ship when fourteen miles off Whitby, on 7th October : " The 

 bird settled upon the bowsprit, panting with fatigue, and 

 presented a very curious and interesting spectacle." The 

 late J. Cordeaux has also recorded the occurrence of a female 

 of this species alighting on a vessel in June 1897, when no 

 miles east of Spurn. During the autumnal or return passage 

 southward, this bird is reported in September and October, 

 at this period being not uncommon in the gardens about 

 the town of Beverley ; it has been seen assembling at Flam- 

 borough previous to migrating, and it is occasionally immolated 

 against the glass of the lighthouses. The latest date recorded 

 on the coast is 23rd October 1878, when one was observed 

 at Easington near Spurn ; while the latest record for unfledged 

 young is 2nd September 1889, at Thornthwaite (Nat. 1889, 



P- 333). 



Superstitions connected with this strange looking bird 

 are very prevalent in the remote Yorkshire dales ; one of 

 these, which is perhaps of old Danish origin, and was believed 

 in by the dalesfolk of Cleveland, describes it as a mysterious 

 bird with large glowing eyes, hooked beak, and an awful 

 shriek, which accompanies, or is heard by, the death-doomed. 

 In Nidderdale the country people say that these birds embody 



