434 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



237. Sand Martin [UFERSCHWALBE]. 

 HIRUNDO RIPARIA, Linn. 1 



Heligolandish : Liitj grii Swoalk = Small Grey Swallow. 



Hirundo riparia. Naumann, vi. 100. 



Sand Martin. Dresser, iii. 505. 



Hirondelle de rivage. Ternminck, Mamiel, i. 429, iii. 300. 



This, the smallest of European Swallows, both during the spring 

 and autumn migrations, is of quite common, often very abundant 

 occurrence. Thus thousands and tens of thousands of these birds 

 were among those which perished through the severity of the 

 weather on the 30th of May 1855, as already related under 

 No. 235. 



The breeding range of this little bird is among the most exten- 

 sive in the whole of the bird-world. It stretches from Portugal 

 and north-west Africa as far as China, and from Alaska to New- 

 foundland; while in its latitudinal range it extends to the Far 

 North of Europe and Asia on the one side, and the most southern 

 of the United States of America on the other. 



Nightjar, or Goatsucker Caprimulgus. The genus of these 

 peculiar birds is represented by a greater or smaller number of 

 species in all parts of the world. One of them, Caprimulgus 

 europceus, occurs throughout the whole of Europe, and is also of 

 quite common occurrence in Heligoland. Besides this, C. cegyptius, 

 which is a native of Africa and portions of Asia, has occurred here 

 once a great rarity. C. ruficollis, however, which is a resident 

 of western Europe, has not yet been observed here. Jerdon gives 

 no less than eight species as natives of India. 



238. Nightjar [ZIEGENMELKER]. 

 CAPRIMULGUS EUROPCEUS, Linn. 



Heligolandish : Nachtschwalber = .ZVi<jr/i Swallmv.' 2 



Caprimulgus europwus. Naumann, vi. 141. 



Goatsucker. Dresser, iv. 621. 



Egoulevert ordinaire. Temminck, Manuel, i. 436, iii. 304. 



On warm calm days from May to the middle of June, this 

 peculiar bird may be seen squatting close to the ground with its 

 eyes almost shut, in shady places, in gardens, or along the base of 



1 Cotyle riparia (Linn.). 2 Compare English name, Nightjar. 



