92 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



of a Swift, with two eggs and remains of the nest, 

 were taken a few years since from one of the Eton 

 College Chapel bell-towers, where the old bird had 

 probably been entombed while sitting on her eggs 

 many years previously. These remains are now de- 

 posited in the school library. 



Mr. W. Dalziel Mackenzie informs me that he 

 observed a Swift at Fawley, in Buckinghamshire, 

 during a sharp frost on the 22d of December, 

 1860. 



Family CAPRIMU LGID^E. 



NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus Eur opens}. The Nightjar 

 is the only nocturnal bird among the summer visitors 

 to Great Britain. It reaches us about the second 

 week in May, and departs at the beginning of Sep- 

 tember. It is partially distributed throughout both 

 counties, but is nowhere a numerous species * one 

 of the most favoured localities is Gerrard's Cross, near 

 Beaconsfield, where these birds may be often heard 

 on a still summer's night. 



The female deposits two beautifully marked eggs, 

 marbled grey or brown, in a slight depression in the 

 ground, which serves as a nest. Many of these eggs 

 are annually taken from the woods near Beacons- 

 field, and brought to Eton, where they are sold for 

 a trifling sum. 



The Nightjar is locally nameg! Night Hawk^ 

 Screech Hawk, and Goatsucker, the latter name being 



