NIGHTJAR. 



189 



INSESSORES. 



FISSIROSTRES. CAPRIMULG1DM. 



PLATE XXXVIII. 



NIGHTJAR. 

 Caprimulgus Europ.eus. 



Among the collection of live specimens of British birds 

 that we have kept for the purpose of becoming more ac- 

 quainted with their peculiar habits, we have several times 

 attempted to rear this species with varied success : one pair 

 of these beautiful birds we brought up from the nest ; we 

 kept them until they were full-grown, and in their full 

 feathering; but when the cold weather set in, the kitchen 

 fireside and a covering of flannel were not enough for them 

 to thrive, the second and third frosty night putting an end 

 to their existence. 



Raw meat chopped very fine was their food, but they 

 did not help themselves, and would not have lived so long 

 if we had not paid great attention to their regular meals 

 night and morning. During the whole day they sat or 

 rather lay in a corner of their cage like an inanimate thing, 

 although their splendid large eyes were wide open. The 

 nestlings were brought by a lad upon whose testimony we 

 could rely, who said they had been found on the ground 

 among long grass, moss, and fern. Besides having had these 

 birds alive in confinement, we had very frequently the plea- 

 sure of watching them in the open air in a wild state, in 

 the uninclosed part of Claremont, among the different sorts 



