114 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



seen gliding and darting in pursuit of its food, and at times 

 performing the most surprising evolutions. Its length is 

 about nine or ten inches. It provides no nest beyond se- 

 lecting or forming some cavity in the ground, among fern 

 or heath, or beneath the protection of shrubs. The eggs, 

 two in number, are very beautiful, spotted or marbled with 

 delicate shades of grey and brown upon a glossy white 

 ground. (PL VI. fig. 32.) 



The name of " Goatsucker," applied to this species, is 

 derived from a strange fancy which prevailed in ancient, as 

 it does in modern times, that it sucked the teats of goats. 

 In our own country, however, it is not the udder of the 

 goat, but that of the cow, which it is supposed to drain ; 

 while the Eev. G. White of Selborne relates that the 

 country-people have a notion that it is very injurious to 

 weaning calves, by inflicting, as it strikes at them, a fatal 

 distemper. These superstitions probably all originated 

 from its coursing around these animals during the night 

 season, in search of the insects near them. 



MEROPHLE. BEE-EATERS. 

 This family inhabits the warmer regions of the Old 



