IOO BRITISH BIRDS. 



large bristles. Wings long. Tail rather long, rounded. 

 Tarsus short, feathered nearly to toes anteriorly ; three 

 toes in front, one behind ; claw of middle toe larger 

 than others and with its inner edge serrated. 



133. Caprimulgus europseus, Linn. NIGHTJAR. 



Hab. Europe, north to S. Scandinavia ; also Western 

 Asia. In winter south to Africa and India. 



Male : chiefly light grey, diversely barred and vermicu- 

 lated with blackish-brown and rufous ; wings barred 

 with reddish-white and with an oval white spot on inner 

 webs of three outer primaries at about middle ; two outer 

 tail-feathers on each side also have a large spot of white 

 at tip ; throat irregularly banded with white markings ; 

 bill brownish-black ; feet brownish-orange. Length fully 

 lo'oo. Female : lacks white spots on wings and tail. 



Common from latter part of May to end of September. 

 Frequents chiefly beds of bracken, furze-covered commons 

 or coniferous woods, the 2 oval eggs being laid in a slight 

 depression in the ground ; they are creamy-white, blotched 

 or marbled with deep brown and lilac-grey; size 1*25 by 

 82. The vibrating and sustained "jar" or "churr" is 

 well-known ; it is probably never uttered on the wing. 

 Feeds on winged insects, such as the " cockchafer "; is 

 always observed to perch lengthwise on the larger 

 branches of trees, never across them, but seems 

 preferably to rest on the ground. 



134. Caprimulgus rufleollis, Temm. REDNECKED 

 NIGHTJAR. 



Hab. S.W. Europe and N.W. Africa. 



A single occurrence near Newcastle in 1856 was recorded 

 by the late John Hancock. 



