CHAPTER III 



NIGHTJAR TITMICE TREE-CREEPER HAW- 

 FINCH MISSEL-THRUSH 



ONE of the features of our suburban woods in late 

 spring used to be the " churring " of the Nightjars 

 in the evening and during the night. Many people 

 would go to listen and to watch these birds as they 

 flitted about like great moths over the footpath. 

 The more ignorant of the common people, who 

 passed while the performance was in progress, 

 would wonder what it all meant ; and one man, 

 evidently not liking the unusual noise, hurried with 

 his wife from the scene, while ominously muttering, 

 " Nasty things ; come away ! " 



The keeper of one wood shot several of these 

 interesting visitors, the result being that for the 

 last two seasons we have not had a single Nightjar 

 to entejtain us. The " churring " or " reeling " has 



