364 THE NIGHTJAR 



left our shores by the middle of September, although stragglers have been noticed 

 even in November in the mild south-west of England (cf. Saunders, Brit. Birds, 

 267 ; Ussher and Warren, B. of Ireland, 1900, p. 108 ; Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, 

 pp. 228, 230 ; and B. O. C. Migration Reports, i.-v., especially v. p. 270). [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. The eggs are laid on the bare ground or among dead 

 vegetation, dry sticks, etc., sometimes in an open glade in a wood, or more frequently 

 on bracken-covered commons or waste ground. (PI. xxxin.) When first laid they are 

 often conspicuous, but are difficult to find when the bracken is high. The eggs are 

 2 in number, though one or two instances of 3 and even 4 have been recorded. 

 They are much elongated and elliptical in shape, creamy or greyish white in ground 

 colour, irregularly marbled, blotched and streaked with yellowish brown and very 

 dark sepia as well as leaden-grey shell-markings. (PI. F.) Average size of 100 eggs, 

 l'24x -87 in. [31 - 5 x 22 - 28 mm.]. In the British Isles the eggs are rarely found 

 before the last week of May, and very frequently not till June. Incubation, as 

 noted in captivity and in the wild state, lasts from 16 to 18 days, and is chiefly 

 performed by the hen, though she is at times relieved by the cock (British Birds, 

 iii. 196 ; Journal fur Ornithologie, 1909, 74, 75). As eggs have been found throughout 

 July and up to August 19, as well as young in September, it is probable that two 

 broods are reared, and this is confirmed by the fact that in captivity they have 

 successfully bred twice in one season (Journal fur Ornith., loc. cit.). [F. c. B. j.] 



5. Food. Insects, chiefly beetles or noctuid moths ; also grasshoppers, 

 which are sometimes taken from the ground (Naumann). The young are fed by 

 both sexes on insects by regurgitation. [r. B. K.] 



6. Song Period. The churring of the nightjar is heard from shortly after 

 its arrival till towards the middle of August. It is recommenced about the end of 

 August before the bird's departure (T. A. Coward, Fauna of Cheshire, i. 257). 

 [p. B. K.] 



The following species are described in the supplementary chapter on " Rare 

 Birds " :- 



Rednecked-nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis Temminck. 

 Egyptian-nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius Licht. [F. c. K. J.] 



