Niyhtjar. 311 



119. NIGHTJAR (Gaprimulg-us Europceus). 

 This is by far the most appropriate of the many names which 

 this much-belied bird has yet received, and it expresses one 

 of its most remarkable habits, for when perched on a tree with 

 its face towards the trunk, and its tail towards the outer branches, 

 and closely concealed by the thick foliage, which is the position 

 it most loves by day, or else squatted on the ground amid the 

 tall fern and heather, it will utter a most singular jarring or 

 whirring noiso, somewhat resembling the hum of a spinning- 

 wheel, while its head is bent down lower than the tail, and every 

 feather quivers as it utters its purring note. ' Night-churr/ 

 ' Wheel-bird,' and ' Spinner ' are other provincial names given in 

 allusion to this peculiar habit and the strange sounds it emits. It 

 is also known as the ' Fern-owl,' a most incorrect term and one 

 likely to mislead, for beyond the fact that it is crepuscular, and 

 therefore has soft downy plumage, and is seldom seen abroad 

 before ' the witching hour of twilight,' it has no affinity with the 

 owl family. In Norway it is called Natt Skarra, and more 

 popularly Jord-geed or * Ground Goat,' because (says quaint old 

 Bishop Pontoppidan), 'its note resembles the bleating of a goat'; 

 which, however far-fetched, is at all events a more harmless 

 sobriquet than that of 'Goatsucker,' a misleading word which 

 implies an accusation for which there is no sort of foundation. 

 In France it is L'Engoulevent, and in Germany Tagscklafer. Its 

 body is small for its size, that is to say, much smaller than its 

 general appearance would lead one to imagine, for it is clothed 

 with such a quantity of soft light downy plumage, that it passes 

 for a larger bird than it really is. The marking of its feathers is 

 peculiarly fine and delicate ; the prevailing colours are shades of 

 brown, buff and gray, barred and spotted with every variety of 

 hue ; its immense width of gape at once distinguishes it from all 

 other birds, and its full dark eye and pectinated claw are very 

 striking features. The latter, however, belongs to the adult only ? 

 and is wholly wanting in the immature bird; nor is it peculiar 

 to this family, for the herons and the gannets share it; and 

 probably there are other families which are provided with a 



