INSESSORES. 129 



Reservoir at Kingsbury. The following day a bird 

 of this species was shot near Reading, and Mr. Bond 

 obtained it for his collection. It is conjectured that 

 this was the same bird seen at our reservoir. 



Family Caprimulgid^. 



Nightjar, Caprimidgus europceus. This beautiful 

 summer visitant may be said to be local rather than 

 rare, evincing a partiality for ferny commons and 

 tracts of low underwood surrounded by cover. It 

 is a difficult bird to find, except in the evening, 

 when it comes abroad to feed, for by day it rests 

 either on the ground, where it sits very close, until 

 almost trodden upon, or on a bough of some rugged 

 tree, where, on account of its mottled plumage, and 

 its curious habit of sitting lengthwise instead of 

 crosswise upon the branch, and crouching close, it 

 frequently escapes detection. Its flight is very 

 silent, and its evolutions on the wing, when in 

 pursuit of moths and chafers (its usual food) are 

 very graceful. The provincial name of " Moth 

 Hawk" is an appropriate one; but its soubriquet 

 of " Goat-sucker" conveys a very erroneous impres- 

 sion. The country people say that they have seen 

 this bird assail the udders of their flocks, to 

 suck their milk, and hence give it the name of 

 Goatsucker ; but a little patient observation, and an 

 examination of a few specimens, would show them 

 that the food of this harmless bird is not milk, but 



