4-22 CAPEIMULGIDiE. 



nests of the goatsucker, and rarely observed more than one egg 

 in any of them. On the 28th of June, 1838, he pointed out to 

 me one of their nests, if such it may be called, at the base of a 

 young tree planted in the spring of that year in a plantation on 

 the mountain side. The bird was seen on the ground from some 

 distance, and did not take wing until we approached within seven 

 or eight paces : — it flew but a short way before alighting. Two 

 very young birds on the bare earth, whence their parent rose, were 

 observed \ and about the distance of a foot from where they were, 

 the eggs had been incubated. A nightjar was shot at the deanery, 

 Armagh, a few years ago ; and two appeared on the 24th of July, 

 1843, at Knappa, in that county.* 



The nightjar is common in the north-west of Donegal.f It is 

 said to be a regular vernal migrant to the county of Wick- 

 low, — the Yale of Avoca (a name familiar to the lovers of 

 the " Irish Melodies,") being one of its favourite haunts. This 

 bird is not uncommon, and breeds annually in some heath- 

 clad mountains near ClonmeljJ it seems to be very generally 

 distributed in the county of Wexford, preferring for its abode the 

 lower declivities of rocky mountains where fern and heath abound. 

 About the 1st of May, it arrives there, and from its note has 

 obtained the name of Spinner. § It is occasionally shot in the 

 neighbourhood of Bandon, county of Cork ; and is said to breed 

 on the mountains above Blennerville, county of Kerry. || A 

 young plantation of limited extent, on the high banks above the 

 river Blackwater, near Youghal, was pointed out to me by Mr. R. 

 Ball, in July, 1834, as annually resorted to by these birds. In 

 three specimens sent to him from this locality, the remains of the 

 ghost-moth (Hepialus Humuli) only were found; one stomach 

 containing nine of these insects. When visiting the lakes of Kil- 

 larney, with that gentleman, in July, 1834, we had the gratifica- 

 tion of seeing three nightjars hawking about in company, as we 

 passed from the upper to the lower lake, near the highly pic- 

 turesque mountain called the Eagle's Nest. The white markings 



* Rev. George Robinson. f Mr. J. V. Stewart. % Mr. R. Davis. 



§ Mr. Poole. || Mr. R. Chute. 



