146 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
Family CAPRIMULGIDAE.
Nightjar: Caprimulgus europaeus. Locally, "Night Hawk'
(Orsett).
A regular summer visitor, but very sparingly distributed, except
in a few spots which are peculiarly suited to its habits, as Epping
Forest, Ongar Park
Wood, and the woods
and commons round
Danbury, Tiptree, War-
ley, and elsewhere In
most parts of the county
it is seen occasionally
when on migration. It
usually arrives about the
middle of May, and de-
parts in September.
Albin says (3. i. 10), "I have seen them on Epping Forest and divers
other places." Mr. Buxton says (47. 93) they are " frequently seen during
summer in the Forest, where they breed." "J. H." records (39. Jan. 13,1883)
that in 1883 he found a couple of nests in the Forest, and I found a nest
near Ambresbury Banks in 1870. I also saw a nest—or rather eggs—in Ongar
Park Wood in 1877. Mr. G. Walford wrote in 1838 : This bird " appears
to have been unusually numerous in this county during the last season, several
having been sent tome to be preserved." (19. 74). According to King (20) it is
' rather rare " round Sudbury. At Harwich it is fairly common and breeds
(Kerry). Round Orsett, where there is very little woodland, it is "not common "
(Sackett), but Dr, Laver speaks of it as "common in both the Colchester and
Paglesham districts." Mr, Clarke states (24) that one or two were killed in
most years round Walden, where in 1880 I knew of two nests, although I know
the bird to be decidedly uncommon there, except round Chesterford, where Mr.
Brewis tells me it breeds commonly. Mr. W. C. Emson of Littlebury also in-
forms me that they breed there every year. It abounds among the woods and
commons round Danbury and Little Baddow, and on Tiptree Heath. My cousin,
Mr. R. W. Christy, saw a specimen in Nightingale's Wood, Roxwell, on several
different days during frosty weather in the winter of 1881-82. This is a very
remarkable occurrence, though it has on other occasions been known to remain
till November. Mr. Fitch has once found the eggs in Hazeleigh Hall Wood.
specimen (29. Nov. 23 & 30, 1878) which is said to have been preserved by Morris, a bird-stuffer,
of Low Leyton, Essex, but nothing further is known about it. Ambrose of Colchester, through
whose hands the specimen passed, did not believe it had been set up from a skin.