99- The Food of the Nightjar. [jax.^ 



THE FOOD OF THE NIGHTJAR 



[Capyimiilgiis eiiropcBUs, Linne). 

 Walter E. Collinge, D.Sc, F.L.S., 



University of St. Andrews. 



The Nightjar, known more commonly also as the Fern Owl,. 

 Churn Owl, Night Hawk, Spinner, Wheel-bird, and by the- 

 absiird name of Goatsucker, is a summer visitant to this country. 

 It arrives from its African winter retreat usually about the 

 first or second week in May, and departs, as a rule, about the 

 middle of September, though both earlier appearances and 

 later departures are known. 



Like many other crepuscular and nocturnal animals, this 

 bird is regarded with a large amount of suspicion, and many 

 superstitions are associated with it. In some parts of the 

 country it is still believed to be a hawk, and a foe to the poultry 

 3'ard and to young game birds. 



Writing of this bird in 1908, Archibald* states, "it is un- 

 fortunate that some unwise person once gave the name of Night 

 Hawk to this species ; the designation has been quite enough 

 to cause unintelhgent game-preservers, by no means a limited 

 class, to destroy these delightful birds. A glance at their soft 

 bills and feeble feet renders the idea that they take game as 

 ridiculous as the fable that they suck the milk of cows and 

 goats." 



In both \\'arwickshire and Yorkshire the writer has seen 

 specimens nailed up in the " gamekeeper's museum." More- 

 over, we have a considerable amount of evidence to show that 

 during the past twenty years this bird has seriously diminished 

 in numbers, no longer occurring in localities where it was once 

 common. This is most unfortunate, for there are few birds 

 \\hich are more harmless, or which render better service to 

 the farmer and the fruit grower. 



As the Nightjar lays only two eggs, its increase is not rapid, 

 even supposing that in some parts of the country there are two 

 broods. 



Practically every writer on ornithology during the last fifty 

 years has endeavoured to dispel the absurd superstitions that 

 have been associated with this very beneficial bird. All are 

 agreed upon the nature of its food, but hitherto we have not 

 possessed any exact and detailed information as to the actual 

 food items or the percentages of such items, and these are now 

 offered in the hope that the Nightjar will be more carefully 



* Jour. Roy. Agnc. Soc, 1908, Vol. 68, p. 9. 



