212 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



a rule, the Nightjar captures its prey while in flight, and several 

 may sometimes be observed at a time hawking in company by the 

 side of a wood of Scotch firs whose dark foliage forms a somewhat 

 treacherous back-ground to the moths. Mr Harvie Brown informs 

 me that at Dunipace, in Stirlingshire, he has seen one of these 

 birds passing and repassing the front door of the house after dusk, 

 and successfully capturing the nightfliers as they flitted past, or 

 were attracted to, the light of the hall lamp. 



The monotonous call-note of this bird is uttered about the close 

 of day, and begins just as other bird voices are silenced by the 

 shadows of the deepening twilight. I have often listened to it on 

 the hill sides above Loch Lomond, and also in Ayrshire where the 

 species is comparatively common ; and I have observed that the 

 noise is made by the birds while perched either on the summit of a 

 tree, a block of stone, or some slight eminence on the ground. On 

 these occasions it has occurred to me that a single bird may cause 

 the listener to imagine that at least two or three other nightjars 

 are in the neighbourhood, for, as the performer turns his head in 

 the act of jarring, the sound appears to come from all quarters, 

 and in different degrees of loudness. 



With regard to the use of the serrated claw of the Nightjar, 

 about which there have been so many opinions expressed, the best 

 theory I have yet seen advanced is one advocated by Mr Sterland 

 in his lately published and very interesting work entitled, 

 " Birds of Sherwood Forest." The following quotation explains 

 Mr Sterland's views, and I may add that I entirely agree with 

 him: "The larger number of species composing the family of the 

 Caprimulgidce do not perch across a bough, as all other perching 

 birds do, but lengthwise; and it is for this peculiar use that I 

 believe the foot to be specially formed. In the ordinary position 

 of perching birds, the twig or bough is grasped by the foot, and 

 thus a firm hold is obtained, the weight of the body, by tightening 

 the tendons, increasing the stability; but it is evident the Nightjar 

 cannot effect any grasp of the bough as it sits lengthwise, and 

 therefore the necessary firm position is obtained in other ways. 

 It will be seen by any one who will take the trouble to examine 

 it, that the serratures on the centre claws are therefore placed in 

 exactly the best position for preventing the foot from slipping 

 sideways; and this is still further provided against by the hind toe 

 projecting forwards and inwards so much so, indeed, that it has 



