HU.SSET-^ KI KEJ) NIG IITJ A K. 
11)1 
every important particular with the description given 
by Swainson of that bird, in his “History of the Birds 
of Africa,” — “Jardine’s Naturalists’ Library,” Ami. A’iii., 
p. 70: — Singularly enough Mr. Swainson seems to have 
OAmrlooked the fact that the European Nightjar has 
three spots on the inner web of the three first primaries, 
and has claimed for his bird this exclusi\’e character. 
IMr. SAvainson giAms eleven inches as the length of his 
bird, Avhich is rather shorter than that of C. rnjicollis, 
but the other and more important dimensions are the 
same. 
There is another point of difference Avhich I cannot 
help thinking is accidental. Mr. S. says, “The first 
primary quill is half an inch shorter than the second 
and third, Avhich are of equal length, and the longest, 
AAdiile the fourth is an ineh shorter, and the fifth is 
one and one fourth inches shorter than the fourth.” 
If the end of the aboAm passage is transposed, and 
read, “AVhile the fourth is an inch and a quarter 
shorter, and the fifth one inch shorter than the fourth,” 
the Avhole Avill apply Avith joerfect exactitude, like every 
other part of the desciiption, to C. ruficollis. 
I have no account to offer of the nourishment, 
habits, and nesting of this bird. But they are not 
likely I think to differ much from its European and 
closely-allied congener. There is the same Avide mouth, 
Avith its array of bristles, and the same comb to clean 
them Avith on the claAV of its middle toe. What a 
beautiful adaptNe proA'ision is this comb. Looked at 
through a lens, the teeth of the comb are seen to be 
placed with perfect regularity, and are admirably 
adapted to their evident use — to clean the bristles, an 
act Avhich Dr. Maclean tells me he has actually seen 
performed by our Goat-sucker. The biistles are required 
