COfiACnFOKMES (COKACLE). 387 



NlGHTJAKS (CaPRIMULGID^). 



The only representative in England is the Goatsucker or 

 Fem-Owl [Caprimulgus eurqpceus), a migrant which arrives in 

 England about the middle 

 of May. They have an 

 extremely wide gape, the 

 edges of the mouth being 

 furnished with a row of 

 bristles (fig. 192). Insects, 

 such as cockchafers and 

 moths, form the majority 

 of their food, which thay 

 catch whilst flying about i'i=- "2-hea» w^n^w^^ (Ca;„^muiff« 



at dusk and during the 



night. The nightjar lays its eggs upon the ground in open 



places amongst fern and gorse and in wood clearings. 



(v) Coraciae. 



Kingfishers (Aicedinid^). 



One species only occurs here — namely, Alcedo ispida, which 

 is a resident bird, generally distributed over Great Britain. It 

 delights in lakes, ponds, rivers, and even the sea-coast, darting 

 about in straight lines, and suddenly plunging from its perch 

 into the water to secure some unwary fish, upon which it lives. 

 Dragon-flies and beetles are also eaten. The beautiful azure- 

 blue back and dark -blue tail and chestnut breast and belly 

 make it a conspicuous object. The nest is made in a hole in 

 the banks of pieces of water and rivers. .The eggs are laid on a 

 layer of fish-bones. 



Three other groups are represented in this section, by the 

 Roller (Goracias gamdus), Bee-eater (Meraps apiaster), and 

 Hoopoe (Upupa epops), but they are only casual visitors. 



