GOATSUCKER. 333 



it arrives here about the middle of May, and returns the end of 

 September, rarely later.* It lives in woods for the most part, and 

 feeds on insects; collecting them on the wing in the dusk of the 

 evening, and morning ; generally retiring, like the Owl, into some 

 dark recess during the day; yet may be seen flying in gloomy, dull 

 weather, especially if disturbed. It makes no nest, but lays the 

 eggs on the bare ground, about the middle of July, among the 

 heath or furze ; especially not far from a wood ; the eggs are two in 

 number, of a dusky white, blotched with bluish brown, with some 

 spots of darker brown ; the size rather larger than those of the 

 Blackbird: is mostly seen on the ground; but, if disturbed, will 

 perch on the limb of a tree, on which it, for the most part, sits 

 lengthwise. t The food seems to be moths, X or beetles; chiefly the 

 cockchafer, and midsummer beetles ;§ the moths of every kind; and 

 it swallows every thing whole, as we have found the cockchafers 

 entire in the stomach, to the number of six, besides four or five thick- 

 bodied moths ; and tew winged insects can escape its enormous gape, 

 the addition of the long hairs serving to increase the space, and direct 

 the object to the throat, like a broad funnel ; whilst flying it emits a 

 sharp squeak, and when at rest on a branch, has a particular note, 

 which may be compared to the quick rotation of a spinning wheel, 

 not unlike the letter R, continually repeated ; and I remember one 

 that had perched upon my garden wall, towards evening, in Kent, 

 that continued this note for more than ten minutes, before it flew off; 

 when at rest, it may be observed to have the head lower than the 

 body, but for what purpose cannot well be conjectured. 



These birds are common in France, Italy, and Spain ; appear at 

 Gibraltar the first week in May, in this differing not greatly from 



* Colonel Montagu saw one about Penryn, in Cornwall, the 1st of October, 1796. 



•f This has been observed also, in respect to the Egyptian Cuckow. 



J I have been told by more than one person, that when they were in pursuit of moths, 

 about the dusk of evening, and in the hopes of securing one, the Goatsucker has flown by, 

 and carried off the prey. See also Lin. Trans, iii. p. 12. 



§ Scarabaeus Melolontha et Solstitialis. — Lin. 



