RUSSET-NECKED NIGHTJAR. 189 



third. Plumage having a general rufous tint. Length twelve 

 inches; carpus to tip eight inches; tarsus one inch; middle toe 

 one inch; claw pectinated. Beak from gape fourteen lines ; breadth 

 at base one inch; tail six inches and a half. 



The Red, or, as I prefer calling it, the Russet-necked 

 Nightjar, is a native of Africa, being occasionally found 

 in various parts of Europe. The south of Spain and 

 France, namely, Provence, Marseilles, Nimes, and 

 Montpellier, are recorded as its European localities. 

 To these, through the kindness of Dr. Leith Adams, 

 I am able to add Malta, where a specimen was obtained 

 by Charles Augustus Wright, Esq., from whose notes 

 I copy the following: — 



"In the spring of this year (1861) a native bird- 

 stufFer sent me word of a curious Goat-sucker having 

 been shot a few days previous, (in the middle of May,) 

 at Emtalitep, a valley situate on the southern coast of 

 this island. When I saw it the bird had already been 

 set up, but the skin was quite fresh, and there is no 

 doubt about its being a fine specimen of Caprimulgus 

 rvficollis. * * In addition to the localities 



given by Degland, I know it is included in an 

 unpublished list of Egyptian birds in my possession, 

 compiled from various sources by Mr. W, C. Medlycott. 

 As far as my information extends, it has never been 

 known to visit Sicily, or any part of Italy, except 

 Nice, where it has been occasionally met with. There 

 appears to be no previous record of its capture in 

 Malta. I am glad to say that the subject of this 

 notice passed into my possession, and now occupies a 

 conspicuous place among my Birds of Malta. C. 

 ruficollis may be easily distinguished from C. Europceus, 

 by its larger size, general rufous colouring, different 

 proportionate length of primaries, two large white 



