THE NIGHTJAR 137 



audible as they turn and twist in chase of the night moths 

 and the cockchafers. Ever and anon they mount above the tree- 

 tops for a moment, and their dusky forms show out against 

 the clear western sky. If you keep very quiet they probably 

 alight on some old stump, or perhaps on the top bar of a gate 

 close at hand ; they are not shy birds, and fear no danger. 

 When sitting on the stumps or fences their actions are very 

 like a big Flycatcher. Every now and then they sally into 

 the air to catch a passing moth or beetle, or to flutter over 

 the tall stems of bracken, and then return to their perching- 

 place. Sometimes a bird will be joined by its mate when so 

 sitting, and I have seen them feed each other on such occasions. 

 As the night deepens the Fern Owl's activity increases, and 

 they dart and glide more swiftly amongst the trees and above 

 the open spaces, as though they had shaken off all drowsiness 

 and were now thoroughly awake. As they hold high carnival 

 in the balmy stillness of the midsummer nights, we have 

 good opportunity of listening to their singular notes. When 

 on the w^ing the cry is a clear and rapidly repeated co-ic, co-ic ; 

 but when at rest the bird utters a churring noise, often so 

 loudly as to make the surrounding air sensibly vibrate. I 

 have never heard the Nightjar " churr " on the wing, nor have I 

 ever heard the chattering cry when the bird has been at rest. 

 Like too many other birds whose habits lead them abroad 

 during the hours of darkness, the Nightjar has few friends. 

 The poor Owls are persecuted because they hunt at night 

 when no man sees their usefulness, and the unfortunate 

 Nightjar suffers from the same circumstance. He has been 

 accused of sucking the teats of the cows grazing in the 

 pastures at night, but the poor bird only flits amongst them 

 to catch the beetles and moths w^hich are disturbed from the 

 meadow grass by the heavy tread of the feeding animals. 

 You may watch him hunt the meadow^s when the moon is at 

 the full, and observe his every action as he flutters and 



