THE NIGHTJAR. 13 



about equal to innermost primary rest graduated becoming longer 

 inwards, tips rounded. Tail rounded, ten feathers, tips rounded. 

 Bill very weak, flat and broad at base (triangular), tip of upper 

 mandible curved and projecting beyond lower. Gape very wide, 

 mouth opening nearly as far back as posterior edge of eye. Nostrils 

 small and semi -tubular being surrounded with a raised operculum. 

 Along edge of upper mandible a line of long and very stiff bristles 

 directed forwards and outwards, smaller and softer bristles at 

 angle of lower mandible and round nostrils (see fig. B, vol. 1, p. 5). 

 Tarsus short and about three-fourths of it feathered anteriorly. 

 Hind-toe directed inwards, other three toes connected by membrane 

 to second joint, middle one long with claw curved outwards and 

 having on its edge a row of flattened serrated projections like 

 teeth of a comb (see fig. 3, vol. 1, p. 5) ; these pectinations are 

 less developed in nestling and juvenile. Eyes and external aperture 

 to ear very large. 



Soft parts. — Bill blackish-brown ; feet brownish-flesh ; iris 

 deep umber. 



Characters and allied forms. — C. e. meridionalis (south Europe, 

 Asia Minor and north-west Africa) is very much like typical form 

 but rather paler and smaller ; C. e. sarudnyi (Altai, Tarbagatai) 

 is much as typical in colour, intermediate in size and has larger 

 white spots on primaries, those on outer 2nd and 3rd extending 

 across outer webs as they do in C. e. unwini (Persia, Turkestan, 

 N.W. India) which, however, is smaller and paler than other forms ; 

 C. e. plumipes (east Turkestan) is much like last but has a more 

 rufous-isabelline tinge. Large bristled gape, pectinated middle 

 claw, grey vermiculated and black striped upper -parts distinguish 

 Nightjar, while dark coloration and want of rufous collar distinguish 

 this species from the other two British species. 



Field -characters. — Haunts woodland glades, commons and 

 wastes, particularly where ling, gorse or bracken afford cover. 

 Of crepuscular and nocturnal habits, is quiescent in daytime and 

 likely to be overlooked, for its coloration is protective in a high 

 degree, whether bird is lying prone along branch of tree, on rocks 

 or bare soil. Becomes active at nightfall, pursuing its insect prey 

 with silent, twisting flight, accomplished by deliberate wing-beats 

 and glides on motionless wings, a long -tailed, long -winged bird. 

 In flight male shows white spots on wings and tail. Love -song 

 a sustained and reverberating k ' chur-r-r-r-r," uttered when station- 

 ary in some exposed situation, such as bough of tree, bare rock, 

 fence-rail, top of a telegraph-post, or roof-tree of low building, 

 and audible from a considerable distance. Call -note, uttered in 

 flight, " co-ic " ; alarm -notes, " quick " and " chuck." A loud 

 clap is often produced by bird in flight smiting its wings together 

 above its back. 



