C APRIMULGID^E. 113 



species than the last, and gifted with even superior powers 

 of wing. It breeds in high rocks, ruins, and church- 

 steeples, and lays from three to five eggs, of a pure white. 

 The nest closely resembles in its construction that of the 

 Common Swift. 



CAPBIMULGUm GOATSUCKERS. 



The Goatsuckers are nocturnal birds, and, except in this 

 respect, closely resemble the Swifts in their habits. Their 

 plumage, though unobtrusive in colour, is pencilled in the 

 most beautiful manner ; their eyes are large, and the gape 

 of the mouth extremely wide, enabling these birds, while 

 on the wing, to seize and engulf the largest insects. With 

 one exception they seek their food by night, coming forth 

 late in the evening and retiring before morning. In Britain, 

 one species belonging to this family is an annual visitor. 



THE COMMON OR EUROPEAN GOATSUCKER. Caprimul- 

 gus HJuropcem.-r-This beautiful bird is also known as the 

 Night Hawk, Night Jar, etc., and visits this country in 

 May, leaving it again in September. Its prey consists of 

 moths, chaffers, and other large insects, which it seizes upon 

 the wing ; and in the darkening summer evenings it may be 



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