98 
British Birds. 
The Common Nightjar (p. 97). 
The Isabelline Nightjar. 
sailing high in the air across a valley, it has a curious habit of striking its wings 
together above its back, producing quite an audible clap. No nest is made by the 
bird, and the eggs, two in number, are laid on the bare ground. They are elliptical 
in shape, with both ends equally rounded, and are marbled with brown and 
violet-grey spots and lines. 
This is a very pale-coloured species, and is distin- 
guished by the notches of white on the inner webs of the 
primaries, which do not have the large white spot so 
conspicuous in C. europceus. One specimen of this Nightjar 
has been obtained in England, viz., in Nottinghamshire, 
on the 23rd of June, 1883. Its home is in the deserts of Northern Africa, 
whence it extends into Central Asia. 
A single specimen of this Nightjar has been obtained 
at Killingworth, on the 6th of October, 1856. It is a slightly 
THE ISABELLINE 
NIGHTJAR. 
(Caprimulgus 
isabellimis.) 
THE RED-NECKED 
NIGHTJAR. 
(Caprimulgus rujicollis. 
larger bird than 
the Common 
Nightjar, but has a large white spot 
on the inner web of the primaries, as 
in that species, from which it is dis- 
tinguished by the broad rufous collar 
on the hind neck. Another difference 
between the two species lies in the 
fact that in C. rujicollis , the female, 
as well as the male, has the large 
white spots on the inner webs of the 
primaries. These spots are found only 
in the male of C. europceus. 
The ex- 
ternal form of 
the Bee-Eaters 
THE BEE-EATERS. 
Sub-Order MEROPES. 
The Red-necked Nightjar. 
