CHAPTER X.
NIGHT-JARS, SWIFTS, AND HUMMING-BIRDS.
Night-jars.
Photo by A. S. Rudland & Sons.
COMMON NIGHT-JAR.
Known also as Fern-owl and Goat-sucker.
It is probable that the Night-jars are the nearest allies of the Owls. As pointed out in the last chapter, although the latter have acquired the habits of the Hawk and Eagle Tribe, they are not really connected with that group by descent.
Soberly clad, so as to be in complete harmony with its surroundings, with large eyes, huge mouth, and peculiarly short beak, beset with long bristles, the night-jar may be distinguished at once from all other British birds. By day it hides, squatting close to the ground, or perched on the thick branch of a tree; but when on the latter, it sits along and not across the bough, like other birds, the complete harmony between its plumage and the bark rendering it as invisible as when on the ground.
