34 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



likely as not, will first be noticed sitting in solitary 

 state upon the top of a bush, a tall weed, or a 

 wall. Little alarmed at your closer approach, the 

 ungainly songster flutters in a laboured manner, 

 often with legs dangling down, to a neighbouring 

 bush to repeat his musical performance. Then 

 another and possibly more interesting species 

 found in these localities is the Nightjar, or Goat- 

 sucker. During the bright sunny hours of day 

 the bird is rarely seen, unless flushed from the 

 rocky and stone-strewn ground amongst the gorse, 

 or from the tall bracken and heather. It flies 

 away in an uncertain Owl-like manner, and always 

 seems glad to dip into the first available cover 

 that may present. But as the dusk creeps over 

 the fields and commons the Goatsuckers come 

 forth of their own accord, and commence to beat 

 up and down above the gorse, almost striking the 

 dark green branches with their broad, softly-flap- 

 ping wings, chasing the moths and beetles that 

 the twilight similarly brings from their lurking 

 places. Their singular cry during flight resembles 

 the rattle of loose cog-wheels, but when at rest a 

 churring noise is made, often so powerful as to 

 cause the air around to vibrate. The Goatsucker 



