THE NIGHT-TARS. 



47 



I. THE COMMON NIGHT-JAR. CAPRIMULGUS EUROPjEUS. 



Caprimulgus europaus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 346 (1766); Macg. 

 Br. B. iii. p. 633 (1840); Newton, ed. Yarr. ii. p. 377 

 (1874); Dresser, B. Eur. iv. p. 621, pi. 271 (1875); 

 B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 75 (1883); Seebohm, Br. B. ii. 

 p. 309 (1884); Saunders, Man. p. 257 (1889); Hartert, 

 Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 526 (1892); Lilford, Col. Fig. 

 Brit. B. part xxii. (1892). 



Adult Male. Mottled all over, the general colour of the 

 upper surface being dark ashy-grey, with darker brown vermi- 

 culations, taking the form of broad lanceolate spots on the 

 crown; the nape streaked with dull ochraceous-buff; on the 

 scapulars some longitudinal streaks of black and ochraceous- 

 buff; wing-coverts spotted with the latter colour; primary 

 quills blackish, with rufous-buff spots on both webs ; the three 

 outer primaries with a large rounded spot of white on the 

 inner web ; the two outer tail-feathers with a large white spot, 

 about an inch long, at the tip ; throat blackish-brown, nar- 

 rowly barred with rufous-brown and spotted with white ; breast 

 coloured like the upper surface ; abdomen fulvous, barred with 

 blackish-brown, these bars less distinct on the under wing- and 

 tail-coverts, which are rather more rusty ; bill black ; feet red- 

 dish-brown ; iris black. Total length, 10-5 inches; oilmen, 

 0-55; wing, 7-8; tail, 5-5; tarsus, 075. 



Adult Female. Similar to the male, but having the white 

 spots on the primaries and outer tail-feathers replaced by 

 spots of ochreous-buff, which have also a few brown specks 

 upon them. Total length, 10*5 inches; wing, 7*5. 



Young. Resemble the adults, but are rather duller in colour 

 and have the spots on the primaries and outer tail-feathers 

 ochreous-buff, as in the old female. 



Nestling Covered with down of a greyish shade, darker 

 above and paler below. 



This species is distinguished by the white or buff spots on 

 the inner web of the primaries and at the ends of the outer 

 tail-feathers, and by the absence of a distinct rufous collar 

 round the hind-neck. 



Eange in the British Islands A regular summer visitor, arriving 



