18 BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 



Length 9'5 inches, tail 4'5, wing 6, tarsus '8, bill from gape 1*2. The 

 female is of about the same size. 



I do not think any useful purpose would be served by describing the 

 Nightjars in great detail. Their plumage is so rich and variegated that 

 it almost defies description ; I have therefore contented myself with 

 drawing attention to those points which are of real importance, and by 

 which the species may be discriminated. 



The present species and the next may be separated from the other 

 Nightjars by the tarsus, which is naked in these two. 



The Common Indian Nightjar appears to be generally spread over 

 Arrakan and Pegu, but to be rare in Tenasserim. I obtained it at Thayet- 

 myo, and I observed it to be common round the town of Pegu and the 

 village of Kyeikpadein in Southern Pegu. Mr. Davison did not get it 

 in Tenasserim; but Dr. Armstrong shot one specimen at Amherst, and 

 Capt. Bingham records it from the Thoungyeen valley. 



It is spread over the whole peninsula of India and Ceylon, extending 

 still further westwards even to Palestine, as C. tamaricis appears to be 

 the same species. It probably occurs throughout the Indo-Burmese 

 countries. 



This species is found in low jungle, cultivated ground and the outskirts 

 of forest. During the day it squats on the ground under a bush ; but as 

 soon as twilight comes on it becomes very active, flying about in graceful 

 sweeps after moths &c. When disturbed in the daytime it rises with a 

 chuckle, but its usual note at night is like the sound produced by tapping 

 a board rapidly with a stick, or that of a stone scudding over ice. In 

 Burmah it will probably be found to breed in April and May. It lays 

 two eggs on the ground without making any nest ; they are pinkish 

 marked with purple and reddish brown. 



415. CAPRIMULGUS MONTICOLUS. 

 FRANKLIN'S NIGHTJAR. 



Caprixnulgus monticolus, FranJd. P. Z. S. 1831, p. 116 ; Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 198; 

 Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 98; id. 8. F. iii. p. 46; Bl B. Burm. p. 83; David 

 et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 67 ; Davison, 8. F. v. p. 453 ; Hume $ Dav. 8. F. vi. 

 p. 59 ; Hume, 8. F. viii. p. 85 ; Bingham, S. F. ix. p. 161. 



Description. Male. Of rather dark colour ; first primary with a streak 

 of rufous-white on the outer web and a large patch of white on the inner ; 

 second, third and fourth primaries with a patch of white on both webs, 

 reaching right across the feather ; no patches on the other quills ; the two 



