NIGHT-JAR. 
103 
their numbers, as might be expected from the numerous 
dangers of their voyages. 
The earliest date in the Calendar for this bird's ap- 
pearance is May 1st. 
Had field met with this bird in the island in February, 
i86o,i and the record is to some extent corroborated by 
the fact that it has been met with in winter both in Devon 
and Cornwall. 
Dr. Cowper2 notes that "one frequently disturbs one or 
two together while out partridge shooting in September " 
in the island ; and we would suppose that the birds were 
then migrating, or just about to depart. 
One was observed on the rocks at the Needles Light- 
house on June loth, 1902, and had probably just arrived. 
Mr. Corbin, having shot two specimens on July 31st, 
1866, was proceeding to stuff them on the following 
evening, when he was surprised to notice the size of the 
crop of the first which he skinned. Having cut it open, 
two moths flew out, and several others crawled out. Having 
secured the fliers, he examined the contents of the first 
crop, and found eleven antler moths, one yellow underwing, 
three Selasellus and five Culmelhis. The crop of the other 
bird produced one dung-beetle and one antler moth.3 
Generally in our county it is most plentiful in the 
heathy districts, but is also numerous in the oakwoods, 
where its eggs are laid in the open spaces among the under- 
growth of hazel, etc. 
Merrett, in his "Pinax rerum naturalium Britannicarum" 
(1667), noted ''Goatsucker, hunc cepit Dominus Cole, in 
agro Hantoniensi, an. 1664, I'^^^i admodum avis." 
^"Zoologist." i860. 
^ "Hants Court Guide." 
5 " Science Gossip." 1866. 
