212 BIRDS 



nocturnal in its habits, squatting and snoozing 

 throughout the heat of the day. When lighted 

 upon in the daytime it blinks at the observer and 

 seems almost dazed, but when it is getting dusk 

 one observes this very interesting bird at its best. 

 It feeds on night-flying insects, wheeling round 

 and snapping at some denizen of the air with 

 unerring aim and adroitness. It swoops down at 

 unexpected moments, and often brings its wings 

 up over its back with a loud report as of a pistol 

 shot. This is a bird which strikes me as one of 

 those species which hates being watched and 

 loves seclusion. When watching them during their 

 night prowls I have on several occasions had the 

 birds dash at my head in no uncertain manner, 

 and only by a rapid ducking have I escaped a 

 snap from them. They have capacious and hairy 

 mouths, which are just suited for the capture of 

 insects, and their flight reminds one of a large 

 Swallow. They lay two eggs upon the bare 

 ground, and these are very similar to the bleached 

 stones and other surroundings, an instance of 

 protective colouration. 



The note is one of the most curious utterances 

 in the whole realm of birdland, and when all 

 Nature is hushed the love song strikes upon the 

 ear in a very weird manner. It may be described 

 as a sort of jarring warble, and a somewhat similar 

 noise may be made by rapidly vibrating the 



