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| Ob eee late spring and early summer, on a 
still evening, a curious and continuous sound 
may often be heard, coming from some little distance. 
oe 
It has been compared to the “‘ whirring’ of a wheel, and 
sometimes lasts, without a break, for something like a 
couple of minutes. 
This is the cry of the Nightjar, known also as the Goat- 
sucker, from its supposed habit of stealing milk from goats. 
As a matter of fact, the bird feeds entirely upon insects, for 
which it “hawks ” after the manner of bats and swallows, 
capturing them in enormous numbers. Anda large proportion 
of these consist of cockchafers and other mischievous beetles. 
So the Nightjar, in its small way, is a friend to the farmer, 
41 
