1920.] 



The Food of the Nightjar. 



993 



preserved and more strictly protected by the agricultural 

 community. 



For the purpose of this investigation the writer has not deemed 

 it necessary or desirable to destroy a large series of specimens 

 in order to obtain a truer estimate of the food. Examples 

 have been obtained from seven widely separated localities, 

 and an average of two specimens per month has been examined 

 for the months of May to September, as shown below : — 



Locality. 



May. 



June. 



July. 



Aug. 



Sept. 



Oct. 



Totals. 



I 



I 



2 



2 



2 







9 



2 





2 



2 



2 





I 



9 



3 





2 



2 



2 



2 





9 



4 





2 



2 



2 



2 





9 



5 



I 



2 



2 



2 



2 





9 



6 



I 



2 



2 



2 



: 





9 



7 





2 



2 



2 





I 



8 



Totals 



5 



14 



14 



14 



13 



2 



62 



The whole of the food found in these 62 specimens consisted 

 of animal matter, and this was entirely of an insectivorous 

 nature. So far as the writer has been able to ascertain, by 

 careful and continued observation extending over a number 

 of years, practically the whole of the food is taken whilst the 

 Nightjar is on the wing. 



The various items found in the stomachs of the 62 specimens 

 were as follow : — 







Per cent. 



Ghost Moth [Hepialus humuli, L.) 





13-5 



Garden Swift Moth [Hepialus liipulinus, L.) 





25 



Winter Moth [Cheimatohia hrumata, L.) 





1-5 



Cabbage Moth [Mamestra hrassiccB, L.) 





I '5 



Turnip Dart Moth [Agrotis segetum, Sch.) 





25 



Heart and Dart Moth [Agrotis exclamationis , 



L.) : 



5'5 



Great Yellow Underwing [Triphcena pronuba 



L.) . 



3'5 



Remains of Moths (not identifiable) . . 





18-5 



Cockchafer [Melolontha vulgaris, Fabr.) 





10-5 



May Beetle [Phyllopertha horticola, L.) 





50 



June Chafer [Rhizotrogus solstitia'.is, L.) 





45 



Dung Beetles [Geotrupes sp.) 





I "5 



Remains of Beetles (not identifiable) . . 





. • 16-5 



Crane Fly [Tipula oleracea, L.) 





55 



Remains of other Dipterous Flies 





7"5 







100 "O 



A summary of these figures shows that of the total bulk of 

 food consumed ffom May to September 88 per cent, consists 



3 X 



