NIGHTJAR. 271 



forehead. Feet with three toes in front, one behind ; the anterior toes united 

 as far as the first articulation, the hind toe reversible ; the claws short, except 

 that of the middle toe, which is long and serrated on the inner edge. Wings 

 long ; the first feather shorter than the second, which is the longest in the wing. 



THE NIGHTJAR, or Nightchurr, both names having refer- 

 ence to a particular noise made by the bird, which resem- 

 bles the sound of a spinning-wheel, is, I believe, the only 

 nocturnal bird among our summer visiters. It has been 

 remarked that the Nightjars are among the Swallows what 

 the Owls are among the Falconidte. These nocturnal, or 

 night Swallows, as they have been sometimes called, do 

 not differ much from the diurnal Swallows, either in their 

 prey, or in the mode of taking it ; but their habit of fly- 

 ing and taking their prey on the wing during several hours 

 both in the morning and in the evening, feeding almost 

 entirely on cockchafers and moths, is of great service to 

 the agriculturist by thus consuming the prolific source of 

 innumerable grubs and caterpillars. 



The Nightjar, like the Swallow, comes to this country 

 from Africa. It is the latest arrival in order of date, ex- 

 cept the Spotted Flycatcher, not making its appearance 

 here till the middle of May, and generally leaves again by 

 the end of August or the middle of September, but remain- 

 ing near a month later in Italy before it seeks its winter 

 quarters ; occasionally, though very rarely, staying much 

 longer here, since Montagu mentions having shot one as 

 late as the 8th of November, 1805, in Devonshire ; and 

 Mr. Crouch says that one was shot in Cornwall, as if in 

 departure, November 27, 1821. 



The Nightjar appears to prefer moors, heaths, and com- 

 mons that are partially covered with bushes and patches of 

 fern ; I have known them constantly frequent young wood 

 of one or two years' growth, and have observed that if 



