Lhe Nightjar. 189 
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tricts, and woods; any one out for a ramble on a 
summers evening cannot hear this particular noise 
without noticing it; and although this bird is not so 
often seen as many others, its notes are most striking, 
breaking the silence of twilight, as it cannot bear the 
fayecrouthesum, Iiimay be seen also in heavy cloudy 
weather, or when disturbed by passers-by. Its food 
consists of dor beetles and moths, which it catches on 
the wing. From its great liking for the dor beetle or 
¢hater te derives the name of Dor Hawk. I have 
found seven of these insects in its stomach, besides 
other things, such as pieces of moths. The Night-jar 
is migratory, and is the last of our summer birds of 
passage to arrive in England, visiting us about the 
middle or end of May, and returning southwards in 
the latter part of September. 
The Night-jar is a solitary bird, and is never seen in 
flocks: its flight is irregular, and at times very rapid ; 
sometimes it is seen wheeling round a tree, making 
several circles in quick motion, then diving and 
skimming across an open piece of ground, when sud- 
denly it rises in the air to perform unexpected move- 
