T h e N ig h t ja r or Goatsucker* is the only representative
among our native birds of a very interesting and well-
characterized Family, which inhabits almost all parts of the
world, and has some alliance with that last treated, though
the difference between the Cypselidce and the Caprimulgidce
is so marked, that no doubt has ever been entertained as to
their separation being warranted. The habit of taking their
insect-food on the wing is indeed possessed by both groups
in common with the Swallows and some other birds; but with
nearly all the Nightjars this habit is nocturnal or crepuscular,
and, being correlated with many peculiarities of external
structure and form, is sufficient to render their determination
easy, apart from the presence of many internal characters.
The Nightjar is a summer-visitant to Britain, and, like
most of the species included in that category, it comes to us
from Africa. It is ordinarily one of the latest to arrive, and
seldom reaches this country before the middle of May, commonly
departing about the middle of September. Capt.
Hadfield, however, records (Zool. p. 6977) his having seen
one in the Isle of Wight February 19th, 1860, and Mr. Gat-
combe informed Mr. Harting (Summer Migrants, p. 204)
of its appearance near Plymouth April 10th, 1872, while
Montagu mentions having shot one in Devonshire, November
8th, 1805, and Couch says one was killed in Cornwall,
November 27th, 1821.t
The Nightjar commonly frequents moors and heaths,
especially such as are diversified by patches of fern, as well
as woods and plantations, most usually resting on the ground.
If disturbed it will often fly to a high tree, should one be
near, and then, on being cautiously approached^ it may be
found crouching on a branch, not sitting athwart, as most
* The absurdity of this common name, which has its equivalent in most
European tongues—both ancient and modern, nowadays needs no shewing, but
the absurdity was not so great as that of the notion entertained by some writers
that the bird directed its course by looking through the roof of its mouth, which,
to that end, was so thin as to be transparent!
f The Editor, when a boy, was told by a woodman at Elveden of his having,
many years before, flushed a Nightjar from her eggs on the 2d November, of
which date the finder felt sure by its being his birthday.
birds do, but lengthways*, the head being kept lower than
the body—a position which it commonly if not invariably
assumes whenever it perches; and in such an attitude requiring
a quick eye to detect it. On the ground also it
squats close; and, owing to the colour of its plumage closely
resembling that of the surrounding surface, is seldom seen
until it is almost trodden upon, when it suddenly opens its
wings and starts up silently as if from under the intruder’s
feet. It generally affects dry, sandy or stony places, where
they exist in the neighbourhood of its haunts, and is said to
be partial to those in which it can bask in the sun; but it is
certainly often found under the deep shade of trees where
the soil is comparatively free from vegetation. One habit,
well known to all who are acquainted with the bird, but of
which Mr. Dillwyn first sent word to the Author, is that of
stationing itself in the middle of a dusty road or pathway
in the summer-twilight, with the apparent object of enjoying
a sand-bath, and of flying on, when approached, some
twenty or thirty yards to a similar dusty spot—a proceeding
it will repeat time after time, in advance of the wayfarer,
until it has traversed a distance perhaps of half a mile, when
it will wheel round and resume its station behind him.
Like some other crepuscular animals, the Nightjar seems
often to have a regular range of flight which it follows many
times in succession; but continued observation will shew
that this apparent regularity really depends on the quarter
whence the wind, if any, be blowing, and the consequent
course of the heavy-bodied insects on which the bird chiefly
feeds. Let the weather change and its beat is at once
adapted to the new conditions. So, too, at one time some
particular tree happens to be especially, infested with cockchafers,
rendering it a favourite resort of the Nightjar, which
may then be seen, for several consecutive evenings, wheeling
round the leafy mass in active pursuit of prey. During the
period when, in our latitudes, there is no real night, this
bird seems to be engaged in seeking its food from sunset till
dawn, but no one can say for how long it hunts when the
* Hence, says Vieillot, comes one of its vulgar names—“ Cochtbranche.”