N I G H T J A R .
CAPRIMULGUS EUROPJEUS.
I U.Wt met witli this singular bird in every county in which I have passed the summer months-, from Sussex
to Sutherland. Though I failed to uotiee the spooics in Caithness, it is probably to be found in the southern
or more wooded portion, the barren and treeless moors of the central and northern parts of the county bring
perhaps imsuited to its habits. Throughout the Long Island I never observed a single specimen, (hough often
crossing the hills at all hours of the day and night. In the east of Koss-shire it appears as numerous as in
the south of England; indeed I am acquainted with no part of Great ISritnin where the bird is so plentiful as
on the hill of Tarlogie near Tain.
The Nightjar is only a summer visitor to our islands, and is rarely seen before the end of the tirst week in
May If met with at sea on a fine still morning, while making the passage of the Channel, its eurious llight
would mislead any one unacquainted with its habits at this season. I have known several instances where
this species has been mistaken for a large Petrel—its ilight, as it turns and twists over the water, now hovering
for a moment over a submerged butterfly or moth, and again dashing rapidly after some passing insect, much
resembling that of the wandering sea-bird that is supposed to be the harbinger of siorm and teuqiest. Every
other migrant I am acquainted with pursues its course with hut slight deviatioti from the point for which it is
making; this species, however, may frequently IK- observed hawking about over salt water in much the same
Winner as a Swallow or Martin over a pond or river. Ou one occasion 1 carefully noted the movements of a
party of two or three of these birds skimming round the steamboat from which I was watching them. The sea
was w ithout a ripple; and every action, as they rose or fell in the air or darted over the surface, was plainly
visible; and I was easily able to keep them in view fur at least a quarter of an hour, though now aud then
at a distance of three or four hundred yards. To the best of my recoil eel ion 1 have never noticed one of those
birds at sea after eight or nine o'clock in t h e morning : and I believe they generally reach the coast at a still
earlier hour. It is a singular fact that, although they by no means hasten their journey over the Channel, and
remain (as previously described) for a considerable time either searching for food or sweeping in a sportive manner
over the surface, I have never noticed one so engaged over any of the inland waters in the neighbourhood of
their summer haunts, i have studied their habits in the vicinity of highland lochs aud the larger broads in
the eastern counties, and have IH'CU unable to record a single iusiaucc where they followed their prey over tin;
surface of either loch or broad.
The Nightjar (as its name implies': is never heard, and seldom seen, by day, unless disturbed from the
spot where it is resting. It is usually flushed from the ban' ground in a ride through a wood or an open space
on a moor or down, usually at only a short distance from sonic bush of furze, rank heather, or other uiountainplaut.
If cautiously approached, the bird may tie noticed squatting almost lint ou the ground, with (be head
drawn hack between the shoulders, and the eyes either entirely or partly closed. It now aud then lakis.
up its quarters for its daily rest in somewhat curious situations: I have repeatedly started one from garden