48 
aixen’s naturai.ist’s library. 
about the middle of May and leaving in September, though, 
according to Mr. Howard Saunders, it will sometimes remain 
“ in the mild south-west of England ” until November. It is 
found throughout the United Kingdom in summer, ranging to 
the far north of Scotland, but occurring only as a straggler in the 
Orkneys, Shetlands, and the outer Hebrides. In Ireland, Mr. 
R. J. Ussher records it as breeding in most of the counties, 
but being more scarce in the north and west. 
Range outside tie Britisli Islands. — Extends over the whole of 
Europe, being found as far north as 6o° N. lat. in Scandinavia, 
and reaches about 50° N. lat. in the Ural Mountains and the 
Valley of the Yenesei. Mr. Seebohni believes that it does not 
extend farther east than Irkutsk. Its winter home is in South 
Africa, where it is met not uncommon. It may also extend 
as far as Persia in summer, but the species which inhabits this 
country and Central Asia is a paler form of the Night-Jar, 
known as Caprimulgus umvini, which apparently winters in 
North-western India. 
Hawts Although it m.ay occasionally be flushed during the 
day from the place where it is resting, the Night-Jar is a bird 
of the twilight, and only comes out of its own accord in the 
gloaming. Its favourite haunts are the districts covered with 
fern and bracken, but it also frequents park-land, and I have 
more than once started one from the open road. Its mottled 
plumage tends to conceal it so effectually, when on the ground, 
that it would be impossible to perceive it even in broad day- 
light, and it is only in the evening that the Night Jar is in evi- 
dence. Seated lengthwise on a bough, or on the top of a post, 
the bird utters its “ churring ” note— asound, once heard, never 
to be forgotten — and it is one of the most characteristic noises 
of a summer night. It is from this peculiar vibrating call that 
the Night-Jar has got the popular name of “Churn”-Owl in some 
parts of the country. When flying it has also a call-note, 
somewhat Owl-like, very well rendered in Mr. Seebohm’s book 
as co 4 c, co-ic. This it utters when flying, and it is accompanied 
by a kind of cracking noise, which is apparently produced by 
striking its wings together over its back, after the manner of a 
Wood-Pigeon. Often when on a moth-hunting expedition in 
St. Leonard’s Forest, in Sussex, my nightly round to the trees 
