PERCHING BIRDS. 213 



playing numerous antics, joyously screaming to 

 each other, full of energy and life. These meetings 

 continue till towards the middle of August, after 

 which, the birds are no more seen. 



The NIGHT- JAR, or GOATSUCKER, (as it is impro- 

 perly called,) is the night, or twilight swallow, 

 being the only British nocturnal bird, among our 

 summer visitants. It feeds on night moths and 

 gnats, and hence it prefers moors, heaths, and 

 commons, where these insects abound. It has 

 a row of hairs, or bristles, on the side of the bill, 

 and an enormously wide, gaping mouth, and its 

 eye is large, full, and clear, like the owl's. This 

 bird has also a remarkable peculiarity in the foot. 

 The hinder toe is capable of being reversed, so as 

 to turn forward, with the other three ; which is, 

 probably, an acommodation to its habit of perch- 

 ing lengthways. The middle toe, likewise, is 

 strrated, or toothed probably to aid it in the 

 capture and retention of its quick and active 

 prey. 



The night-jar, is so called from the particular 

 noise it makes, which resembles the sound of a 

 spinning-wheel; and is a compound of hissing 

 and booming. This bird does not arrive till the 

 middle of May ; and departs early in September. 

 When hawking for moths, it flies with its mouth 

 widely extended, making its peculiar noise ; and 



