BRITISH BIRDS. 313 



only two or three, which are dull white, spotted 

 with brown. They are seen most frequently to- 

 wards autumn : their motions are irregular and 

 rapid, sometimes wheeling in quick succession 

 round a tree or other object, diving at intervals 

 as if to catch their prey, and then rising again 

 as suddenly. The Night-jar usually perches on a 

 bare branch, its head lower than its tail, and in 

 this attitude utters its jarring note; it is likewise 

 distinguished by a sort of buzzing while on the 

 wing, which has been compared to the noise 

 caused by the quick rotation of a spinning-wheel, 

 from which, in some places, it is called the Wheel- 

 bird : sometimes it utters a small plaintive note or 

 squeak, four or five times in succession : the latter 

 is probably its call to invite the female. It does 

 not perch like other birds, sitting across the 

 branch, but lengthwise, and its hinder toe is 

 capable of being turned forward as well as back- 

 ward. In hot weather it is very fond of basking 

 in the sun on the ground, and will suffer itself 

 to be very nearly approached; but it is difficult to 

 be seen on account of the resemblance of its 

 plumage to the colour of the place on which it 

 chuses to sit. It is a solitary bird, two being 

 seldom found together, but sitting at a little dis- 

 tance from each other. 



VOL. I. 2 R 



