18 
BIRDS OE BRITISH BURMAH. 
Length 9*5 inches^ tail 4*5^ wing 6^ tarsus '8^ bill from gape 1*3. The 
female is of about the same size. 
I do not think any useful purpose would be served by describing the 
Nightjars in great detail. Their plumage is so rich and variegated that 
it almost defies description ; I have therefore contented myself with 
drawing attention to those points which are of real importance^ and by 
which the species may be discriminated. 
The present species and the next may be separated from the other 
Nightjars by the tarsus_, which is naked in these two. 
The Common Indian Nightjar appears to be generally spread over 
Arrakan and Pegu^ but to be rare in Tenasserim. I obtained it at Thayet- 
myo, and I observed it to be common round the town of Pegu and the 
village of Kyeikpadein in Southern Pegu. Mr. Davison did not get it 
in Tenasserim; but Dr. Armstrong shot one specimen at Amherst^ and 
Capt. Bingham records it from the Thoungyeen valley. 
It is spread over the whole peninsula of India and Ceylon, extending 
still further westwards even to Palestine, as C. tamaricis appears to be 
the same species. It probably occurs throughout the Indo-Burmese 
countries. 
This species is found in low jungle, cultivated ground and the outskirts 
of forest. During the day it squats on the ground under a bush ; but as 
soon as twilight comes on it becomes very active, flying about in graceful 
sweeps after moths &c. When disturbed in the daytime it rises with a 
chuckle, but its usual note at night is like the sound produced by tapping 
a board rapidly with a stick, or that of a stone scudding over ice. In 
Burmah it will probably be found to breed in April and May. It lays 
two eggs on the ground without making any nest ; they are pinkish 
marked with purple and reddish brown. 
415. CAPRIMULGUS MONTICOLUS. 
FRANKLIN^S NIGHTJAR. 
Caprimulgus monticolus, FranU. P.Z. S. 1831, p. 116 ; Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 198; 
Hume, Nests cmd Eggs, p, 98; id. S. F. iii. p. 46; Bl. B. Burm. p. 83; David 
et Oust. Ois. Chitie, p. 67 ; Davison, S. F. v. p. 453 ; Hujiie ^ Dav. S. F. vi. 
p. 59 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 85 ; Bingham, S. F. ix. p. 151. 
Description. — Male. Of rather dark colour ; first primary with a streak 
of rufous-white on the outer web and a large patch of white on the inner ; 
second, third and fourth primaries with a patch of white on both webs, 
reaching right across the feather ; no patches on the other quills ; the two 
