When Darkness has fallen. 97 



they meet behind. Even in the darkness it may 

 be detected that each wing is crossed by a 

 definite white bar. The bird is a goatsucker 

 or nightjar. Had we it in our hand, we should 

 see that it was a connecting link between the 

 owls and the swallows, having the soft plumage 

 and noisless flight of the one and the wide gape 

 of the other. The object of the noise it pro- 

 duces is probably to disturb from the bushes the 

 large night-flying moths upon which it feeds. 

 The name goatsucker the bird has from a super- 

 stitious notion that it sucks goats and cows 

 - a myth founded probably upon the fact of its 

 wide gape. It is certain that these birds may 

 often be seen flitting about the bellies of cattle 

 as they stand knee-deep in the summer pastures. 

 The reason of this is obvious, as there insect food 

 is always abundant. Unless disturbed, the night- 

 jar rarely comes abroad during the day, but 

 obtains its food at twilight and dusk. Upon the 

 limestone-covered fells it conforms marvellously 

 to its environment, it being almost impossible 

 to detect its curiously mottled plumage as it 

 basks upon the grey stones, not more still than 

 itself. Here it lays its two eggs, often without 

 the slightest semblance of a nest, frequently upon 

 the bare rock. Quite a peculiar interest attaches 

 to the bird, inasmuch as it is furnished with a 

 remarkable claw, the use of which is guessed at 



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