150 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



The Nighthawk has much the same range as the 

 preceding and is frequently confused with it, although 

 it is a distinct species. The colouring is, in general, 

 the same, but the Nighthawk is darker. It has a white 

 throat-patch and a white bar across the primaries. 

 The wings are long and slender, the tail forked, and 

 the bird is very beautiful in flight as it turns and 

 twists in pursuit of insects. It is chiefly nocturnal in 

 habit, but is frequently seen early in the evening as 

 well as on cloudy days. It has a peculiar hoarse cry. 



The Chuck-will's-widow is a more southern species 

 than the other two mentioned and is a larger form. 

 In the male the inner vane of the outer tail-feathers is 

 white, the outer vane barred with buff and black. It 

 has a loud cry, from which it takes its name. 



Swifts 



The Swifts bear a close superficial resemblance to 

 the Swallows, with which, indeed, they are always as- 

 sociated in the popular mind. As a matter of fact, 

 however, they are in no way related, the Swifts being 

 near allies of the Nightjars. They are long- winged 

 birds and have tremendous powers of flight. The legs 

 are short, the feet extremely weak, and it is with great 

 difficulty that they can rise from level ground. They 

 are insect-feeders, catching their prey while on the 

 wing. In the true Swifts the toes all turn forward, 

 enabling the birds to cling with ease to vertical sur- 

 faces. 



The Common European Swift is very abundant 

 throughout Europe during the summer months, leav- 



