MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 9i9 



The Jungle Nightjar, Caprimulgus indicus. — This is not a common species 

 as far as my experience goes. I did not corns across it in the United Provinces, 

 not even in the lower Himalayas. It is, however, the common species at 

 Pachmarhi in the Satpura Hills of the Central Provinces, where it breeds. 

 Its call is of two kinds. Firstly, a monosyllable, chuck, chuck, chuck. . . . 

 repeated about half a dozen times at the rate of 5 '' chucks " in 2 seconds. It 

 has a second call, not so commonly heard, which is made up of disyllables 

 " chucker — chucker — chucker" .... repeated at the same rate as the 

 first call. The eggs which are pale salmon pink marked in the usual manner 

 are laid among stones or even on rock in open forest. The eggs are laid chiefly 

 in April and Mav. 



Unwin's Nig'atjar, Caprimulgus unwini. — This is the common Western 

 Himalayan Nightjar being found at elevations of from 5,000 to 9,000 feet in the 

 forests of Oak, Deodar and Blue Pine, especially on warm southern aspects. It 

 is particularly fond of steep rocky slopes in forests of Ban Oak (Quercui incana) 

 and it is the only Nightjar, as far as my experience goes, which habitually 

 frequents these altitudes. The eggs resemble those of C. eurapceus and are 

 laid in May. The call of this bird with which I am very familiar is entirely 

 different to that of C. e-uropnous. It consists of a note chuck — -chuck. . . 

 rapidly repeated, usually jabout 8 times, in a series at the rate of 5 chucks in one 

 second, or in other words twice as fast as that of the previously described species. 

 Unwdn's nightjar is common throughout the middle hills from Naini Tal west- 

 wards. I do not know if it extends east of Naini Tal. 



The Common Indian Nightjar, Caprimulgus asiatlcus. — Not common in 

 the Sub-Himalayan Forests of the United Provinces — very common in the dry 

 open scrub stoney forests of the Central Provinces. The note is as described 

 by Marshall, or Chak — Chak — Chak — -Char — r— r — r. 



Franklin's Nightjar, Caprimulgus monti cola.— This is the common night- 

 jar of the thin jungle on the edge of the forest. It is extremely common in 

 Dehra Dun and in fact in the whole submontane tract from Njpil westwards. 

 The only note of this bird which I am sure of is a rather sharp penetrating note 

 like " choo-ee ' uttered on the wing. 



Horsfield's Nightjar. Caprimulgus macrurus nipalensis. — This is the common 

 nightjar of the submontane sal and mixed forests of the United Provinces. 

 It is extremely common in such forests and its loud reverberating call Chounk. 



Chounk repeated any number of times from 1 to 5!) may be 



heard after dark from the middle of March to the end of April. This call is 

 repeated at the rate of 5 in 4 seconds. The eggs are generally laid in very 

 densely shaded deep ravines in the forest. 



One important point about the Nightjars which I think requires studying 

 is the question of seasonal migration. My observations so far would lead me to 

 beUeve that all Nightjars which are found North of North Latitude 19° ate 

 migratory and go South about October returning about the end of February 

 in the Central Provdnces and in March in the United Pro\ances. It would be 

 interesting to know if any observers could quote authentic instances of Nightjars 

 having been seen in the Central Provinces, in Northern India or in the Punjab 

 in the winter months. Lastly there is a point I should like to m-ntion m con- 

 nection with the useful key to the Punjab Nightjars given by Mr. \\ histler. 

 He has omitted the female of C. macrurus. Couid this not also be included in 

 the key which is otherwise complete. 



Garhwal, U. P. B. B. OSMASTON, M.B.o.r. 



March 1921. 



