XATURE NOTES 
114 
As on previous occasions, Mr. Franz Zeidler’s Bijou Orches- 
tra provided music, Messrs. J. and J. Hopkinson kindly lent the 
grand piano, while Mr. F. f. Dormer lent a number of glass 
cases, and the refreshments were provided by Messrs. Aloon, 
Field, and Company. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
622. “A House in a Wood.” — In answer to your correspondent, C. 
Nicholson’s questions about the nightjar destroying the goal-moth : The general 
belief in this neighbourhood is, 1 fancy, chiefly drawn from the fact that the 
woods where the nightjars abound are freer from the depredations of the 
goat-moth’s larvje. A farmer who has lived close to the woods described, and 
whose hop-gardens adjoin the woods, had never seen a goat-moth till last summer. 
Three miles off from these woods he discovered one and brought it to Mr. Craven 
to ask what it was. Woods belonging to friends some miles off are frightfully 
ravaged by the goat-moth larvae, and the owners deplore the absence of nightjars 
and the scarcity of owls, which are also said to prey on the goat-moth. 
Mr. Craven, who once examined a nightjar that had been shot, thinks its gape 
is quite equal to seizing the body of a goat-moth. I have myself seen small birds 
carrying butterflies to feed their young, much larger in proportion to their size 
than a goat-moth would be for the nightjar. But, of course, as both the nightjar 
and the goat-moth are nocturnal in their habits, it is very different for an ordinary 
observer to produce actual evidence. 
As to the second part of C. Nicholson’s question, regarding the ants, I believe 
the stoats and rats remove the bones of dead birds and rabbits. The ants clear 
up every particle of flesh and skin, as only little heaps of fluffy fur remain. 
Brogues IVood, Biddenden. Emily Conykeare-Craven. 
623. Wood-mouse Transporting Young.— While recently engaged in 
removing a rubbish heap in my garden, I disturbed the nest of a pair of wood- 
mice {AIus syhulicus), which made for a hole in the ground near a fence a 
few yards off. The peculiar and retarded movements of one of the animals 
(the female) attracted my attention, and I first thought she had been injured by 
the garden fork, but on closer examination I found that she had a family of six 
young ones firmly holding on to the maternal breasts, and in this condition, in 
spite of some obstacles, they were borne to a place of safety. Somewhat earlier 
in the season I unearthed the nest of another pair of the same species, near which 
was a cache of acorns, stored up for winter use. 
Byjleet, Surrey, Jno. Fitzwater. 
A/ay, 1908. 
624. Bird-names. — Referring to the subject of bird-names, I would wish 
to thank Mr. Otter for his able and withal straightforward criticism of my paper 
on this subject. Nevertheless, I trust you will allow me to reply to a few of 
his remarks. First, I would premise that Mr. Otter’s letter comes as no surprise 
to me, for there are few sulrjects over which one may more easily dispute, and 
on which two opinions are more easily tenable, than this of etymology, especially 
that relating to names of birds and flowers. 
In some cases, as in the derivations of “lark” and “kestrel,” I stand 
corrected, and beg to thank your correspondent for putting me right. Yet I 
cannot say I am convinced with regard to certain other names, of which I beg 
leave to submit a further note on “ fieldfare,” “knot,” and “ chaffinch.” 
That “fieldfare” should mean “ field-goer ”'is at empting explanation, and, 
on the face of it, seems correct enough, yet there are strong reasons for supposing 
it to be derived from A. S. “ fealo,” yellow. In M. E. there are many variations, 
as “ feldefare,” “ felfare,” and “felfur,” and from this it would appear that the 
word has been subjected to corruption in popular usage. “ Fallow,” as a colour. 
