CAPRIMULGIDA. 269 
THE RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR. 
CaPRIMULGUS RUFICOLLIS, Temminck. 
A freshly-killed example of this southern species was recognized 
in the flesh by that eminent ornithologist, the late John Hancock, 
in the shop of Mr. Pape, at Newcastle, on October 6th 1856. It 
was stated to have been shot the previous day at Killingworth, and 
is now in the Newcastle Museum. 
Up to the present time the Red-necked Nightjar has not been 
noticed elsewhere in Northern Europe ; but in Languedoc and Pro- 
vence, in the south-east of France, it has been obtained on several 
occasions. Though not yet recorded from the mainland of Italy, 
one was taken at Spalato, Dalmatia, in March 1875, and Mr. 
C. A. Wright has mentioned two captures in Malta during May, in 
different years. In summer this species is common in the southern 
half of the Spanish Peninsula, where it frequents the cool chequered 
shade of the woods during the greater part of the day; it is also 
said to be a regular visitor to some of the Canary Islands; while 
eastward it is found throughout North Africa as far as Tunisia. 
The eggs, 2 in number, are placed on the bare ground, and 
resemble those of our Common Nightjar ; on average they are less 
boldly marked, and are also a trifle larger, as might be expected 
from the superior size of the bird. J amnotaware of any distinctive 
points deserving mention as regards the food and habits. 
In general pattern of coloration the Red-necked Nightjar resembles 
the preceding species, but its tint is paler, and is more rufous on the 
wings as well as the under parts ; a conspicuous tawny collar encir- 
cles the head, and the throat exhibits large white patches ; the white 
spots on the three outer primaries increase in size with the age of the 
bird, and are small and tinged with buff in the young. These 
patches are not confined to the male, as they are in our Nightjar, 
but are common to both sexes, and there is no perceptible difference 
in plumage ; the two lateral pairs of tail-feathers are broadly tipped 
with white. Length 12 in.; wing 7°8 in. 
It has not been considered necessary to give an illustration of 
this rare visitor, nor would a wood-cut do justice to its distinctive 
characters. Coloured illustrations are in Gould’s ‘Birds of Great 
Britain,’ Mr. Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe,’ and the late Lord Lilford’s 
‘Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands.’ 
