BRITISH BIRDS. 
26 4 
foot is ufeful in taking its prey, as he obferved that 
it frequently put forth its leg whilft on the wing, 
with which it feemed to convey fomething to its 
mouth. Thefe birds frequent moors and wild 
heathy tradls abounding with ferns ; they make no 
neft, but the female depofits her eggs on the 
ground ; flie lays only two or three, which are of 
a dull white, fpotted with brown. Birds of this 
kind are feen mod: frequently towards autumn; 
their motions are irregular and rapid, fometimes 
wheeling in quick fucceffion round a tree or other 
objedf, diving at intervals as if to catch their prey, 
and then rifing again as fuddenly. When perched, 
the Night-jar fits ufually on a bare twig, its head 
lower than its tail, and in this attitude utters its 
jarring note ; it is likewife diftinguilhed by a fort 
of buzzing which it makes while on the wing, 
which has been compared to the noife caufed by 
the quick rotation of a fpinning- wheel, from which, 
in fome places, it is called the Wheel-bird ; fome- 
times it utters a fmall plaintive note or fqueak, 
which it repeats four or five times in fucceffion ; 
the latter, probably, is its note of call by which it 
invites the female, and which it has been obferved 
to utter when in purfuit of her. Buffon fays, that 
it does not perch like other birds, fitting acrofs the 
branch, but lengthwife. It is a foiitary bird, and 
is generally feen alone, two being feldom found 
together, but fitting at a little diftance from each 
other. 
