212 OUR SUMMER MIGRA^fTS. 



upon young game birds. The mistake in the 

 former case must have arisen in this way. The 

 habits of the bird are crepuscular. It is sel- 

 dom seen in broad daylight unless disturbed, 

 but as soon as twilight supervenes and moths 

 and dor-beetles begin to be upon the wing, it 

 comes forth from its noonday retreat and is ex- 

 ceedingly busy and active in the pursuit of 

 these and other insects. Montagu says he has 

 observed as many as eight or ten on the wing 

 together in the dusk of the evening, skimming 

 over the surface of the ground in all directions, 

 like Swallows in pursuit of insects. Cattle, as 

 they graze in the evening, disturb numerous 

 moths and flies, and the Nightjar, unalarmed by 

 the animals, to whose presence it becomes ac- 

 customed, dashes boldly down to seize a moth 

 which is hovering round their feet, or a fly 

 which has settled upon the udder. Being de- 

 tected in this act in the twilight by unobservant 

 persons, the story has gone forth that the 

 Goatsucker steals the milk. 



From the keeper's point of view it is a Night- 



