THE PUCKERIDGE OR GOATSUCKER. 33 
THE PUCKERIDGE OR GOATSUCKER. 
N spite of the good done by this bird, it has, on account 
of its curious habits and uncanny appearance, become 
regarded by our villagers as wicked and dangerous. 
Many stories are told of it, and in some parts it is 
believed capable of almost any crime. In different countries it 
is known by different names, the commonest of which are goat- 
sucker, screech-owl, churnowl, fern-owl, devilling, puckbird, 
puckeridge, wheelbird, spinner, razor-grinder, scissor-grinder, 
night-jar, night-hawk, night-crow, night-swallow, dar-hawk, 
moth-hawk, gnat-hawk, goatchaffer, gabble ratchet, and lich- 
fowl. A Hampshire villager, when walking across a common 
where they are very plentiful, pointed one out to a stranger, 
saying, “ Puckridge is a ill-meanin’ bird, it be that, it hez sich a 
lot of poison about it ; not ’at it’ll attack anyone ’at leaves it 
alone, bud if a body goes near it’ nest it’ll fly at their eyes, an’ 
if it draws blood it’ll venom them.” On being questioned 
further he continued: “ It’s a sort o’ hawk, an’ makes a noise 
like door-latch rattlin’ up an’ down. When it flies from tree to 
tree of a evenin’, an’ makes a great row, folks does say as it’s a 
sign of fine hot weather, bud it’s a ill-meanin’ thing.” In some 
parts these birds are supposed to be the souls of unbaptized 
infants. Their nocturnal habits certainl}' are very curious, and 
the large bristly mouths being particularly adapted for catching 
and retaining the insects on which they feed, give them a very 
strange appearance. A puckeridge always frequents the same 
place, never flying far from home, but noiselessly circling round 
one object and continually uttering a weird cry which does 
resemble “door-latch rattlin’ up an’ down” as much as anything 
else. The bird builds no nest, but lays its two dirty-looking grey 
eggs on the bare ground. These eggs, I am told, should never 
be blown or even touched, as they also are very poisonous. 
Like many other of our feathered friends it is shy, and easily 
disturbed when nesting, and there is a report, which is no doubt 
true, that if disturbed it will remove its eggs or young to a place 
of safety. It is commonly supposed to suck goats, and even 
cows — hence one of the popular names, “ goatsucker.” It is 
also said to lose no opportunity of flying round and round the 
heads of children and young cattle, endeavouring to beat them 
with its wings ; should it succeed in so doing, that child or 
animal “ will never grow no more.” These, however, are not 
the worst crimes it is capable of, for half the calves that are 
taken ill or die have been venomed by a touch from its feathers. 
The goatsucker is very plentiful in many parts of the country, 
which fact is no doubt greatly owing to its nocturnal habits, and 
the superstitious awe and dread which prevent rustics from 
taking the eggs or destroying the birds, as they otherwise would 
certainly do. 
W. M. E. Fowler. 
