BRITISH BIRDS 



During daylight the Nightjar drowses with closed eyelids, either crouching on 

 the ground or on the bough of a tree, usually perched so that the body of the bird 

 is placed lengthways in a parallel line with the branch, and not across it ; as far as 

 I have been able to observe, with the head held higher than the body. It seems to 

 delight in the warmth of the sun, and may often be seen basking and dusting on 

 sandy footpaths or in sheltered corners, and the curiously mottled and protective 

 colouring of the bird makes it difficult to see when at rest. When disturbed 

 during the day, as it flops into the quietness of some shady retreat, one can form 

 no idea of its wonderful powers of flight as displayed during the dusk of evening, 

 when the birds are fully awake, swooping with marvellous speed in pursuit of 

 their prey, or toying and twisting in the air and chasing one another. 



The foot of this bird is extremely small, and no satisfactory reason appears to 

 have been discovered for the curious pectinated or comb-like edge on the inner 

 side of the middle claw, unless it be to enable the bird to sit more securely when 

 settled along a branch. 



The female resembles the male in colour, but is slightly less rufous, and is 

 without the bold white spots on the three first quill feathers of the wing and the 

 two outermost feathers on each side of the tail. 



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