INSESSOBES. 131 



bury. In the neighbourhood of Elstree this species 

 is rather more plentiful, and Mr. Power informs me 

 that around Ealing, also, the Nightjar is not un- 

 common. 



Mr. J. H. Belfrage once saw a young bird of this 

 species in the woods which skirt the back of Forty 

 Green. It was crouching among some dry sticks 

 when he disturbed it, and flew to a neighbouring 

 tree, where it so effectually concealed itself that he 

 was unable to discover it again. The mottled colour 

 of its plumage, closely resembling the tree upon 

 which it sat, increased the difficulty in seeing it. 

 The same gentleman has also noticed the Nightjar 

 at Laleham, where he has seen three or four on the 

 wing at once, hawking over the river at dusk. 



The earliest date at which I have seen this hand- 

 some summer visitant here is the 8th May. On that 

 day last year I watched one through my glass for a 

 long time, as he sat upon the highest spray of a 

 Scotch fir in a plantation and uttered his peculiar 

 churring note. Although this " churr-r-r-r " is its 

 usual note, I have heard the Nightjar make a dif- 

 ferent noise on the wing, which sounds like " wh-ip- 

 wh-ip," but I have not yet satisfied myself whether 

 this sound proceeds from the bird's throat or whether 

 it is caused by striking the wings above the back as 

 it flies. 



During September, when shooting among low 

 underwood and felled timber, I have sometimes 



