NIGHTJAB. 191 



in a changing wind. It is beautiful, indeed, to watch these 

 birds, and easy to approach them very nearly, as they seem 

 to take hardly any notice of an observer ; and where they 

 have a brood, the pair will fly so close, that the wind pro- 

 duced by the movement of their wings may be plainly felt. 



The noiseless flight of owls is generally attributed, not 

 only to the softness of their plumage, but to the serrated 

 edges of the outer quill-feathers ; the same observation may 

 apply to the Nightjar, whose feathers are equally soft, and 

 on being closely examined, show, on the first quill-feather, 

 the same property in a slight degree. 



About the middle of May these birds are paired, and 

 without building a nest, the female deposits her two eggs, 

 like the one represented in our plate, No. 38, on the bare 

 ground by the side of an old stem or bush ; heathy, dry, 

 sandy, and hilly ground, and spots covered with fern, are 

 the places the most likely to harbour the Nightjar. 



Young birds, before they have any feathers about them, 

 are covered with dark grey down on the upper parts, and 

 pale on the under. Their first appearance is very extra- 

 ordinary. 



The use this bird is of to the cultivator of the soil is very 

 considerable, in consequence of their destroying immense 

 numbers of insects of the larger kind, such as cockchafers 

 and large moths, the caterpillars of which are very injurious 

 to forest and fruit-trees. The Nightjar belongs also to 

 the dainties, provided one is able to take them about the 

 time that these birds are on the move for their winter 

 quarters ; they are as fat as the land-rail and quail at that 

 period. 



The geographical range of the bird under present con- 

 sideration is very extensive, being found in Europe, Asia, 

 and Africa. In Europe it is found as far north as Norway, 



