attributed. But keep careful watch. Presently there may 
emerge from the gathering gloom a long-winged, long- 
tailed bird, travelling at speed, with a twisting flight, and 
deliberate wing-beats, alternating with long glide on motion- 
less pinions. As it passes one may notice white spots on 
wings and tail. This is the nightjar: a bird of ill omen 
among the aged inhabitants of the countryside, for they 
will assure you that it is guilty of sucking the milk of 
cows and goats. Hence, it is commonly known as the 
“goatsucker.” Poor bird, it is quite innocent of such 
misdeeds, for though it has an enormous mouth, armed 
on either side with long bristles, it feeds only on moths 
and beetles. 
If you are fortunate, your vigil in the gloaming may be 
rewarded by a sight of yet other night-birds. Out of some 
hollow tree, or swooping round the barn, may come a ghostly 
form, borne on absolutely silent wings: but with a reeling, 
buoyant flight, which is unmistakable—this is the barn owl. 
If you are very fortunate, you may hear its blood-curdling 
screech. Once heard you will never forget it! His cousin, 
the tawny owl, it is whose musical, if doleful ‘‘ hoo-hoo-hoo- 
hoo-o’”’ has so commonly been misrepresented by poets—and 
others—as “‘ to-whit-tu-woo.” Its flight is slower and its 
wings rounder than in the barn owl, and furthermore, it 
lacks the glistening satin-white under parts of that bird. 
226 
