. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms; . is probable that the NiGHT-JARS are thenearest alUes of the Owls. As pointed outin the last chapter, although the latterhave acquired the habits of the Hawk and EagleTribe, they are not really connected with thatgroup by descent. Soberly clad, so as to be in complete harmonywith its surroundings, with large eyes, hugemouth, and peculiarly short beak, beset withlong bristles, the night-jar may be distinguishedat once from all other British birds. By day ithides, squatting close to the ground, or perchedon the thick bra
. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms; . is probable that the NiGHT-JARS are thenearest alUes of the Owls. As pointed outin the last chapter, although the latterhave acquired the habits of the Hawk and EagleTribe, they are not really connected with thatgroup by descent. Soberly clad, so as to be in complete harmonywith its surroundings, with large eyes, hugemouth, and peculiarly short beak, beset withlong bristles, the night-jar may be distinguishedat once from all other British birds. By day ithides, squatting close to the ground, or perchedon the thick branch of a tree; but when on thelatter, it sits along and not across the bough,like other birds, the complete harmony betweenits plumage and the bark rendering it as in\isibleas when on the ground. Not until the spring has far advanced doesthis bird leave its winter resort in Africa forEurope, making its presence known by its con-spicuous habit of hunting its food (which consistsof moths and beetles) after twilight has fallen. Later, its extraordinary churring note is heard. Phtta by J. S. Rudland dr Sam COMMON NIGHT-JAR Knoivn alio ai Fetn-oivl and Goat-sucker / \
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecad, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectzoology
