46 NIGHTJARS 1. The various species of Nightjar resemble each other very closely and are difficult to identify in the field except by their distinctive calls in the breeding season. The plumage is a mixture of mottled grey and brown with white, resulting in a remarkable protective colouration. "The bird seems to be conscious of the fact, only springing into life when the intru- der comes within a yard or two." It spends the day resting quietly, flat on the ground, but as the evening approaches and dusk turns into darkness it becomes active hawking insects on the wing in open spaces near trees. While on the ground, it is incapable of any progression because of its long central toe. This toe has a pectinated nail (serrated like a comb) with which it probably removes insect-wings etc. sticking to the long bristles surrounding the extraordinarily wide gape. This wide mouth gave rise. to a false belief in the western countries that the bird was capable of and actually given to sucking the milk of goats, and hence the name 'Goat- sucker' for it. It has a habit of sitting in the middle of the road at night and travellers by motor car often see it so doing. 2. It is known in Hindi as for and it fefe, the names being in reference to the obliterative colouration of the bird on the ground. It is नप्तूका, a विष्किर bird in सुश्रुत and a night bird with a keen sight in कौटिल्य, the corresponding Hindi names being नपता and नपरका. The Nightjar does not usually fly for many minutes together and between each circuit it rests on the ground (Dewar). It is incapable of walking or hopping and must therefore drop down to its resting place on the ground, to rise again after a minute or two. This trait of the bird would seem to justify the apt name of a for it-+ one that falls but not permanently like a stone पतति न पतति च पुनरुत्पतनाय पतति (?). The बृहत्संहिता and mention the bird under the ga name of fefore from . fafor 'fallen down' and Sansk. fer to throw. The name thus corresponds to Sansk, नप्तुका 1. II.14.2. 2. 88.2. and 35. 3. 4.62; 8.32. Nightjars 3. It is also the bird selected as an offering to the deity of the Night at the अश्वमेघ under the name सोचापू :- "राज्य सीचापूः"-याज० संहिता, 24.25. The name सोचापू is most probably from शी-सी, शयने and चप् सान्त्वने शयानं चपति, one that rests in a lying down posture. Hindi and Marwari for a Nightjar, also Sansk. forfer seem to be from the root 4. M. Williams gives as a kind of bird in , 1.27 but I have not been able to trace it in my copy. The name, however, seems to have some connection with a frog. The Nightjar is known as 'the frog-bird' both in Telugu and Tamil, apparently because when perching low on the ground, as is its habit, it looks like a frog. Its extraordinarily wide gape, when the bill is open, also has a striking resemblance to the wide mouth of a frog. as a bird, therefore appears to be a Nightjar. Indian linen of old must have been of a coarse texture and of a rather grey- brown colour which explains the punishment proposed in the fagfer 44.27 for a thief of clothes made from it.-" " etc. and here 171 is more probably a Nightjar than a frog as the name occurs as one of a series of bird-names for the next birth of different types of thieves. Again in the following may well be a homonym signifying both frogs and these birds:- "स्तोककाः शिखिन व पुंस्कोकिलगणैः सह । मत्ताः परिपतन्ति स्म दर्दुराव दर्पिताः ॥" महाभारत, 3.183.8. In England also a Nightjar is popularly known as the Flying-toad. fg as a bird in the bird-list quoted from पाराशर by भट्टोत्पल under 85.28 of बृहत्संहिता would seem to be this bird. 1. "This bird is most punctual in beginning its song exactly at the close of day"- Gilbert White, Letter XXII to T. Pennant. Compare also the English name "Twilight Nightjar' in Cassells' Book of Bird.
