On Heaths and Marshes. 113 



i 



and south-west of England. It is said, by the way, 

 that the Nightjar captures cockchafers with its feet, 

 and that its serrated middle claw is for this purpose. 

 But this we have never noticed, although we have 

 had a life's experience with the bird, and it seems 

 more than doubtful when we bear in mind the 

 extremely short legs and comparatively weak feet of 

 this species so unlike those of the Kestrel, which 

 we know frequently catches these insects with its 

 feet. But we have lingered too long already with 

 the Nightjar, and must pass on to a notice of other 

 birds upon the heath. The unusual interest attach- 

 ing to it must be our sole excuse. 



Another very interesting little bird not unfre- 

 quently met with upon the heaths, especially those 

 where the soil is sandy and trees are numerous 

 around them, is the Wood -lark. Unfortunately 

 the bird-catcher has literally exterminated this species 

 in not a few localities, the bird's lovely song being 

 the attraction. Here we have a species that becomes 

 rarer and more local in the northern shires than 

 it is farther south. The Wood-lark is not only a 

 most industrious and persistent singer, but is almost 

 a perennial one. That is to say, in the south; up 

 here amongst the northern shires it seldom warbles 

 during winter, unless tempted into voice by excep- 

 tionally mild weather. Its regular breeding song is 

 not resumed so early in the year up here, and we 



(M618) H 



