BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE NIGHT-JAR. 



GOAT-SUCKER, DOR-HAWK, OR FERN OWL. 



(Caprimulgus Enropirus, Linn. Engoulevent 

 ordinaire^ Temm.) 



THE length is about ten inches and a half. Bill 

 small, flat, and somewhat hooked at the tip, and 

 furnished on each side of the upper mandible with 

 several strong* bristles, whereby it secures its prey; 

 the lower jaw is edged with a white stripe, which 

 extends backward towards the head; the eyes are 

 large, full, and black ; the plumage beautifully 

 freckled and powdered with browns of various 

 hues, mixed with rusty and white, but so diversi- 

 fied as to bafHe all description. The male is 

 distinguished by an oval spot of white on the 

 inner webs of the first three quill feathers, and at 

 the ends of the two outermost feathers of the tail ; 

 the legs are short, rough, and scaly, and feathered 

 below the knee; the toes are connected by a mem- 

 brane as far as the first joint; the middle one is 



