86 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



season. Nothing could demonstrate more thoroughly the enthu- 

 siasm which hunting the Eed-deer inspires in those who follow it 

 than the fact that the farmers over such an immense hreadth of 

 country should unanimously agree to endure these losses. Com- 

 pensation is of course paid, but even compensation may fail to 

 recoup. Unhesitating goodwill alone can explain the continuance 

 of stag-hunting under such circumstances. Only the noblest 

 sport of all — the chase of the wild Eed-deer — could excite a whole 

 country to such generous enthusiasm. 



Those wlio are unacquainted with this part of the West of 

 England would do well to obtain and read Mr. Jefferies' book, 

 from which we have quoted. His vivid description of the appear- 

 ance and habits of the Red-deer f^s studied in its last English 

 haunt, with all the natural surroundings which go to charm the 

 eye of an observer, cannot fail to interest even those who do not 

 profess to be naturalists. 



THE NIGHTJAR. 

 By F. Norgate. 



The few facts which I have noted in my diary, with some 

 additional notes from memory, and from others who have had 

 greater opportunities for observing this species than I have 

 had, refer only to the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, from 

 1859 to 1883. The wild haunts, crepuscular habits, strange 

 noises, and the vulgar errors as to the food of this bird, have 

 made it a great favourite with me. 



In Norfolk the eggs are commonly thought to be those of the 

 Cuckoo by the non-ornithological birds'-nesters, many of whom 

 recognise the churring song of the Nightjar as *' the noise of the 

 scissor-grinder," without knowing that the two oval stone-like 

 eggs which they see on the bare ground, without the slightest 

 vestige of a nest, are laid by the same bird. 



I need hardly allude to its habit of squatting lengthwise 

 along a bough (rather than across the bough), and I am probably 

 unable to describe accurately to those who have not heard it the 

 churring or jarring song, which reminds me somewhat of the 

 croaking of frogs. This churring is usually uttered from a bough, 



