268 NIGHTJAR. 
occupied by the Red-necked Nightjar, C. rujicollis. On migration 
from Africa our Nightjar crosses Malta, where large numbers are 
shot for the table in spring. It breeds on the high grounds of Asia 
Minor, Palestine, Persia, Turkestan, and. Afghanistan—where its 
plumage shows a tendency to paleness; and it also nests on the 
mountains of North Africa, while in winter it is found in that Con- 
tinent down to Natal, as well as in Arabia and North-western India. 
From May 23rd onward the eggs, 2 in number, may be found on 
the bare ground or short moss, and often on dead gorse-needles in 
open patches among furze. They are oblong and equally rounded 
at each end; and creamy-white, marbled and veined with brownish- 
black and lilac-grey: measurements 1°2 by 85 in. Fresh eggs have 
been found as late as August 12th. Incubation lasts eighteen days. 
The nestlings, at first covered with a thick greyish down, sometimes 
display a precocious activity approaching that of the young of 
Gallinaceous and other ground-breeding birds; but they are depen- 
dent upon their parents for food, and do not attempt to feed 
themselves in confinement. The Nightjar lives entirely upon insects, 
and these it may be seen to take upon the wing in the twilight or 
when the moon is shining, though it hawks for them on dark nights as 
well ; it is not, however, averse to light, and is fond of basking where 
the rays of the sun fall. The wings are sometimes brought into con- 
tact and produce a loud clap; the male also utters a sharp whistle 
during flight, as well as a bubbling note, while the well-known, 
vibrating churr is emitted while the bird is stationary ; the female’s 
note is chuck. When reposing on a branch the bird sits lengthways, 
with the head level with or lower than the tail; the use of the 
pectinated claw has yet to be determined. From early times and in 
almost every European language the Nightjar has been stigmatized 
by some name equivalent to “Goat-sucker”; in England it is known 
by the equally unfortunate designation of “ Night-hawk,” as well as 
“ Dor-Hawk,” ‘ Fern-owl” and “ Churn-owl.” 
In the adult male the general plumage is ashy-grey, streaked, 
spotted and barred with dark brown and warm buff; on the throat 
are some white patches ; near the centre of each of the three outer 
primaries are well-developed white spots ; and the two lateral pairs 
of tail-feathers are broadly tipped with white. These pure white 
spots on the wings and tail are wanting in the female, and her 
tints are less rufous. Length 10°5 in.; wing 7°55 in. In the young 
the pectination of the claw of the middle toe is not pronounced, and 
the wing- and tail-spots in the male have a buffish tint. Albinisms 
are occasionally obtained. 
