BIRDS Saunders* remark {Manual, p. 26a) that ' the swift seems to revel in the storm.' In Suffolk the name of ' swift ' is applied to the common water-newt. 96. Alpine Swift. Cypselus melha (Linn.) A very rare visitant from the continent of Europe which has only occurred two or three times. On 8 September, 1870, two were seen at Aldeburgh, and one flew into a room at the Brudenell Hotel, where it was cap- tured and killed. It was for some time in the possession of the late Mr. H. Greenwood, who kindly gave several of his friends the opportunity of seeing it in the flesh. The alpine swift can be recognized by its white under-parts and large size, having a wing expanse of quite eighteen inches. 97. Nightjar. Caprimulgus europaus, Linn. Locally, Night-hawk, Night-reel or Eve-jar. The above-given local names, like the orthodox * nightjar,' are derived from the bird's nocturnal habits and singular note, and the absurd and misleading name of ' goatsucker ' is happily almost obsolete. This bird is a summer migrant to SuSblk, frequenting heaths and commons throughout the county. Arriving about the first week of May its eggs may be found about a month later, and the blending of delicate grey and rich brown on a fresh clutch of nightjar's eggs is very beautiful, but the delicate colouring soon fades when the eggs are blown. The two eggs are laid on the ground without any pretence of a nest, and the young, which are well covered with down when hatched, soon begin to move from place to place. Many interesting photographs of young nightjars have been obtained, and more than one artist has been successful in getting a picture of the hen on her eggs. There is no more harmless bird than the nightjar, as its food consists entirely of in- sects, and it is to be regretted that it is sometimes wantonly shot by rabbit-shooters on summer evenings when in pursuit of its prey. 98. Wryneck, lynx torquilla, Linn. Locally, Cuckoo-leader, Cuckoo's mats or Barley-bird. The wryneck's well known note is usually heard quite early in April, and the name of ' barley-bird ' appears to be derived from the arrival of the bird at about the time of sowing spring barley. It is a * masterful ' bird, and has been known to eject not only the great tit but even the sparrow from a nest-box which it coveted for its own use. When dis- turbed on its eggs, which are usually laid in a hole in a tree, it protests with a hissing noise which can be almost exactly imitated by dropping a lighted match into cold water. No nest is made, the eggs being laid on scraps of wood, and when the tree is very soft and de- cayed the wryneck will enlarge the hole. A few years ago three clutches of nine, eight and six eggs were taken from an old apple- tree near Bury, all of which were undoubtedly laid by the same bird in one season. 99. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus virldis (Linn.) Locally, Woodsprite, probably the ' sprite ' or ' spirit ' of the wood, from its loud laughing cry being heard when the bird was unseen. A beautiftil resident species, which like the nuthatch seems to remain in the same locality all the year. Its domestic arrangements are often upset by starlings, which take possession of the holes bored by the woodpecker when completed, and thus often cause it to postpone the laying of eggs till the end of May or even till June. The elm is its favourite tree, but its nest-holes have been noticed in Suffolk in the birch, alder, willow, white poplar, oak, ash, beech, silver fir and even in an old dead holly, of which part is still standing in Hes- sett churchyard. Fresh eggs of the green woodpecker are very lovely, the yolk giving an exquisite pink tint to the glossy white shell. A beautiful pair of these birds, in the Tostock rectory collection, were picked up dead during a very severe frost in February, 1895, the cock at Elmswell and the hen near Bury, which had evidently died of cold and hunger, as no trace of injury could be found on either. This woodpecker sometimes comes into gardens and searches the grass for ants and other insects. 100. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus major (Linn.) This bird is also a resident, but neither so common nor so conspicuous as the green woodpecker. It is also more migratory, and at times crosses the sea in some numbers. In spring the cock makes a very loud vibrating noise by rapidly hammering a branch or the trunk of a tree with his bill, and this, as it is never heard in winter, is probably his method of attracting the attention of the hen. Being a later breeder than the green woodpecker it suffers less from the molestation of starlings. A nest in an old dead birch at Tostock con- tained four slightly sat on eggs on 2 June, 1 900, which were much less glossy than those of the green woodpecker, and the hen sat very close. These birds roost in old nest-holes. 191
