EEO oe 
NIAS—NILE. 167 
Willughby (1678) have Nightingale. Shakespeare and 
many of the other early poets allude to this species as 
Philomel (which see for an explanation of the classical 
allusion). It was locally believed, according to Dyer, 
that there were no Nightingales at Havering-atte-Bower, 
Essex, because of a legend that Edward the Confessor, 
being interrupted by them in his meditations, prayed that 
their song might never be heard again. It has also been 
said that Nightingales have never been heard in Yorkshire, 
but as a matter of fact the species does occur in that county, 
although rarely, it being the northernmost limit of its 
range. Similarly in Devonshire the species is met with in 
the south-eastern portion of the county, but I think has 
never been known to occur in the west. Andrew Boord 
(‘‘ Book of Knowledge ’’) relates a curious belief that in the 
Forest of Saint Leonards in Sussex “there doth never singe 
nightingale, althoughe the Foreste round about in tyme of 
the yeare is replenyshed with nightingales; they wyl singe 
round about the Foreste and never within the precincte 
of the Foreste.”” This bird was formerly popularly sup- 
posed to arrive with the CUCKOO (with which it is much 
connected in folk-lore) on the 14th of April. 
NIGHTJAR [No. 202]. This name appears to have been fixed 
for the species through its adoption by Yarrell (1843), 
although it was previously used by Bewick (1797). The 
bird occurs in Merrett, Willughby and subsequent authors 
to Montagu under the name of Goatsucker (q.v.). Montagu 
gives Nightjar as a provincial name. For the popular 
beliefs regarding this species, see under ‘‘ Goatsucker ” and 
also “‘ Puckeridge.” In Nidderdale the country people say 
these birds embody the souls of unbaptised infants doomed 
to wander for ever in the air (according to Macquoid), and 
call them ‘‘ Gabble-ratchets ”’ (q.v.). 
Nieut Owit: The LITTLE OWL. (Merrett.) 
Nicut Raven: The NIGHT-HERON (q.v.). Also ascribed to 
the BITTERN. 
Nicut Smvcer: The SEDGE-WARBLER. (Ireland; Sed- 
bergh, Yorkshire.) From its singing at night. 
Nicut Sparrow: The SEDGE-WARBLER. (Cheshire.) 
Nicnut Swattow: The NIGHTJAR. From its nocturnal 
habits, and because it hawks flies like a Swallow. 
Nicut WarsLer: The REED-WARBLER. (Bewick.) 
Nizze-prrp: The WRYNECK. (Berks., Bucks.) 
