88 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



reason to think, however, that this hird had not been robbed 

 this year. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., and Capt. Feilden were with 

 me when we found this clutch, and Mr. Gurney was also with 

 me at the same place, on the 19th of the previous month, when 

 we saw three or four young Nightjars not only flying well, but 

 pretty shy for young birds. 



On heaths and in open country away from trees, the Nightjar 

 chooses a small bare spot of earth where there are rounded 

 bleached stones much resembling the eggs in size and colour. 

 The two eggs are often different in size, shape, and colour, 

 and, when hatched, one young bird is sometimes about 

 double the size of the other. This irregularity tends to make 

 both eggs and young less easy to find. 



I will now give a table of dates for young and late Nightjars 

 in Norfolk and Suffolk, all observed by me, except where other 

 authority is given. 



June '2S. Mr. F. D. Wlieeler found two, nearly able to fly. 



,, 29. Two nearly feathered ; old bird sitting on them. 

 July 2. Two at Drayton Drury. 



„ 18. Two strong fliers flew with mother from two eggs. 



„ 14. Two downy ones about three days old. 



„ 17. Nightjars hatched at Heydon. 



„ 19. Two just batched from eggs found with former brood. 



,, 19. Three or four strong fliers, rather shy for young birds. 

 Aug. 6. Two downy ones. I saw nine or ten Nightjars flying the night 

 before. 



„ 7. Two and their mother, and a young one of former brood, all flew 

 up from within a few feet of spot where they were hatched. 



„ 14. I saw Nightjars at Drayton, possibly old birds. 

 Sept. 15. Three dead Nightjars in a shop in Norwich, "brought in on 



Saturday " previous. 

 Oct. 14. My brother-in-law, Mr. J. E. Cremer, saw a Nightjar in Sparham. 



I feel quite sure that several years ago, when shooting in 

 turnips in Sparham, I saw a Nightjar on the wing, but I can 

 find no note of it in my diary. It was probably in September, 

 possibly later. 



On the 5th of August, at Boeston Eegis, I shot a female 

 Nightjar which was hawking about on the wing, in company 

 with eight or nine other birds of the same species, and apparently 



