/ PICID.E. 109 



Like many others of the Picarite, such as the Wrj'iieck, Woodpeckers, 

 &c,, the JNTightjar has a viscid saliva which helps it to secure small insects, 

 and its wide mouth is armed with stiff bristles on either side to prevent 

 the escape of struggling prey. 



In September we have sometimes flushed Nightjars in turnip-fields, 

 ahd, when pheasant-shooting at the end of October, and posted at the 

 Qorner of small fir-plantations, have had them driven out to us by the 

 beaters. 



' A friend, in returning from fishing, was walking through a wood when 

 a bird flew low towards him along the path. Striking it with his rod it 

 ficll dead at his feet, actually dropping upon its nest, in which were two 

 eggs. This poor bird and her eggs came, in this singular manner, into 

 our collection. 



We have often been amused by the actions of J^ightjars when we have • 

 come upon their young. They tumble and twist about in the air close to 

 the intruder, feigning to be wounded, and employ all their art to decoy 

 him from the spot. 



The Nightjar is a summer visitor and common breeder on Lundy, 

 Island (Trans. Devon. Assoc, viii. p. 308). 



Mr. Comyns, of Mount Pleasant, Dawlish, possessed a pied specimen 

 (J. C. B., Nat. Hist. S. Devon, p. 208). 



Observation. — Two other species of Nightjar have occurred in England, 

 namely, the lled-necked (C. riiJicoUis, Temm.) and the Egyptian ( C 

 CPf/j/ptiKs, Licht.). The first has been shot once in Northumberland and 

 the second twice in Nottinghamshire and Cambridgeshire. Other examples : 

 of these species may have visited this country and been mistaken for the 

 Common Nightjar. 



Suborder PICL 

 Family PICID^. 



THE WOODPECKERS. 



In spite of numerous woods and finely timbered lawns 

 and parks, we cannot claim for tlie West Country that it is 

 much beloved by the members of this important i'amily, 

 who, in general, make their home and seek their food 

 among the trees, and are more often heard than seen. 

 They are all of 1)right and conspicuous plumage, easily to 

 be known as they ])ass from tree to tree by their dii)ping 

 flight ; they are noisy and clamorous, and their presence 



