48 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



about the middle of May and leaving in September, though, 

 according to Mr. Howard Saunders, it will sometimes remain 

 "in the mild south-west of England" until November. It is 

 found throughout the United Kingdom in summer, ranging to 

 the far north of Scotland, but occurring only as a straggler in the 

 Orkneys, Shetlands, and the outer Hebrides. In Ireland, Mr. 

 R. J. Ussher records it as breeding in most of the counties, 

 but being more scarce in the north and west. 



Range outside the British Islands. Extends over the whole of 

 Europe, being found as far north as 60 N. lat. in Scandinavia, 

 and reaches about 50 N. lat. in the Ural Mountains and the 

 Valley of the Yenesei. Mr. Seebohm believes that it does not 

 extend farther east than Irkutsk. Its winter home is in South 

 Africa, where it is met not uncommon. It may also extend 

 as far as Persia in summer, but the species which inhabits this 

 country and Central Asia is a paler form of the Night- Jar, 

 known as Caprimulgus unwini, which apparently winters in 

 North-western India. 



Habits. Although it may occasionally be flushed during the 

 day from the place where it is resting, the Night-Jar is a bird 

 of the twilight, and only comes out of its own accord in the 

 gloaming. Its favourite haunts are the districts covered with 

 fern and bracken, but it also frequents park-land, and I have 

 more than once started one from the open road. Its mottled 

 plumage tends to conceal it so effectually, when on the ground, 

 that it would be impossible to perceive it even in broad day- 

 light, and it is only in the evening that the Night-Jar is in evi- 

 dence. Seated lengthwise on a bough, or on the top of a post, 

 the bird utters its " churring " note a sound, once heard, never 

 to be forgotten and it is one of the most characteristic noises 

 of a summer night. It is from this peculiar vibrating call that 

 the Night-Jar has got the popular name of "Churn "-Owl in some 

 parts of the country. When flying it has also a call-note, 

 somewhat Owl-like, very well rendered in Mr. Seebohm's book 

 as co-ic^ co-ic. This it utters when flying, and it is accompanied 

 by a kind of cracking noise, which is apparently produced by 

 striking its wings together over its back, after the manner of a 

 Wood-Pigeon. Often when on a moth-hunting expedition in 

 St. Leonard's Forest, in Sussex, my nightly round to the trees 



