342 



NYCTICHELIDON. 



pose. When it has fixed the nut firm in a chink, it turns on all sides 

 in order to strike it with most advantage. This, with the common 

 hazel-nut, is a work of some labour ; but it breaks a filbert with ease. 

 In defect of such food, insects and their larvce are sought after amongst 

 the moss on trees and old thatched buildings. It is commonly met 

 with about orchards, and is sometimes seen in the cider season, pick- 

 ing the seeds from the refuse of the pressed apples. 



The note is various ; in the spring it has a remarkably loud, shrill, 

 whistle, which ceases after incubating ; in the autumn a double reite- 

 rated cry. 



NUTJOBBER.— A name for the Nuthatch. 



NYCTICHELIDON (Rennie.)— * Nightjar, a genus thus cha- 

 racterised. Bill very short, rather curved, broad and depressed at the 

 base ; the upper mandible bent at the point ; gape very large, and ex- 

 tending as far as, or beyond, the hinder angle of the eyes ; the base of the 

 edge of the upper mandible in most or all the species fringed with 

 strong moveable bristles, directed forwards ; nostrils at the base, tubular, 

 with a large prominent rim, clothed with very small feathers ; wings long, 

 the first quill shorter than the second, which is the longest in the wing ; 

 tail rounded or forked, of ten feathers ; legs with the shank short ; toes, 

 three before and one behind ; the fore ones united as far as the first 

 joint by a membrane ; the claw of the middle toe broad and serrated on 

 the inner edge. 



I have been induced to give a new name to this genus, solely be- 

 cause the old one, ( Caprimulgus,} serves to propagate an absurd vulgar 

 error.* 



