240 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



attracted to a bird which flew up before me from the 

 road. I soon discovered it was a Goatsucker. It several 

 times settled at no great distance, and I observed that it 

 lay almost flat in the road. I at first supposed the cause 

 of its settling to be that it might the more easily dissect 

 some large beetle, but upon watching it I found it was 

 evidently dusting itself, after the manner of domestic 

 fowls. I am not aware if this trait in the character of 

 this bird has been noted. So far from the Goatsucker 

 deserving" the bad character which was so long attached 

 to it, I cannot but look upon it as a bird which renders 

 more service to man than at first sight it appears to do, 

 as it must not be forgotten that the larva of the majority 

 of the insects on which it subsists are very destructive 

 to the roots and buds of many plants and trees. I have 

 found its eggs — nest it has none ; these are generally 

 placed in a wood or shaw', at the foot of a tree or bush, 

 on a few dried leaves or grass, whichever may happen 

 to be on the spot " {Zoologist, 1844). 



In the Zoologist, 1852, Mr. W. H. Thomas wrote the 

 subjoined particulars respecting the habits of the Fern 

 Owl, or Goatsucker, in Kent : — 



" Song of the Fern-Owl. — The first time that I heard 

 the song of the Fern-Owl to perfection was one fine, 

 w'arm summer's night. In the afternoon of June 25, 

 1828, I had at ease walked away from the incessant 

 noise and din of the great metropolis, to enjoy mj'self 

 in scenes far more congenial to my mind. Avoiding 

 as much as possible the dusty roads, I struck across 

 the Lewisham Road at the parish boundary post, over 

 the hilly fields, to Lady Well and Lewisham Church ; 

 again across the Tonbridge Road, up the long lane by 

 Hither Green, then into the great road again near 



