STRANGERS OF THE SPRING. 43 



to be that the eastern Isabelline Nightjar got 

 attached to a stream of migrants starting north- 

 west from that bird's winter quarters somewhere 

 in the Soudan, and instead of reaching its usual 

 habitat in Turkestan, it strayed into Western 

 Europe. The southern Red-necked Nightjar 

 undoubtedly came north in spring, probably with 

 a party of Common Nightjars, from West Africa, 

 .and managed to escape detection in this country 

 until it was shot in the autumn. By a singular 

 coincidence another example of the Isabelline 

 Nightjar was shot on Heligoland one day earlier 

 in the same month, but eight years previously. 

 Another has been obtained in Sicily, and others 

 in Malta. 



Flocks of the beautiful Bee Eater have from 

 time to time appeared in this country in spring, 

 individuals which have overshot their mark on 

 their vernal migration to Central Europe from 

 South Africa. The Hoopoe is another of the 

 birds which the British ornithologist looks upon 

 with regret, for there can be no doubt that this 

 singular and handsome species would become a 

 regular summer visitor to our shores, and rear 

 its young upon them, if it were protected and 

 encouraged. It has come almost every season, 

 and has bred here from time to time. The Great 

 Spotted Cuckoo has been known to visit the 

 British Islands, having inadvertently strayed north 

 of its usual summer quarters in the Spanish 

 peninsula. No less than seven species of the 



