128 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



sharp click, whether it is snapped over a moth, or 

 by way of showing resentment at one's presence 

 young wood-pigeons and doves snap in the same way 

 if disturbed in the nest. The bird has marvellous 

 control of its flight, and has a way of poising itself 

 in the air with the wings meeting above the back, like 

 the wings of the dove in a Scripture-book picture. The 

 serrated claw on the middle toe is probably used for 

 catching prey, and for clearing away fragments that 

 cling round the gaping mouth ; while the long bristles 

 that grow from the jaws entangle moths as in a net, 

 as the bird flies with mouth wide open. It finds good 

 hunting among oak-trees, and is especially fond of 

 several of the many insects that chiefly haunt the 

 oaks. 



The nightjar is among the nestless birds, and is 

 content to lay its two eggs on the ground. When 

 hatched the young are covered with down like young 

 peewits, and they grow at an amazing rate. An old 

 nightjar, when disturbed from its young, will go 

 through a despairing performance, flitting to a low 

 branch near by, and flapping or wringing its wings in 

 a disconsolate manner, as though to say, " Please go 

 away please do go away ! " The old bird seems 

 to know how helpless is the position of the young ones 

 if once discovered by a foe. But it is never easy to 

 pick out the young birds from their surroundings, 

 while the mother bird on her nest is as good as 

 invisible. 



m 9. 9 



