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Swallow-like, the first quill being the longest, the second being nearly of equal length, but the others diminishing rapidly. None of the quills are emarginate on either shaft, nor are the margins formed for a noiseless flight, but are entire, like that structure seen in the Swallows. The tail is forked.

This species, Dr. Richardson says, bears considerable resemblance to some of the Falconida in the evolutions it performs in the air, whence, in allusion to its food, it obtains the appellation of Mosquitohawk, at Hudson's Bay. It often remains stationary for several seconds, fluttering its wings rapidly, and then suddenly shoots off a long way by a gliding motion, making a loud vibratory noise, resembling that produced by the vibration of a tense thick cord in a violent gust of wind. It also traverses the air backwards and forwards, quartering the sky as regularly as the Hen-harrier surveys a piece of ground. The total length of this species is upwards of ten inches. The eggs, as with most of the species, are deposited on the ground, without any nest being prepared for them.

The genus Podargus exhibits an aberrant form, the bill being of great strength and convexity, and the space around the eyes and base of the bill being furnished with radiating hairy feathers as in the Owls. In some the tarsi are elongated, and the middle claw is sometimes not serrated. A corresponding variation in the economy of the birds is made in accordance with these differences of structure.

In Britain we possess only a single typical genus, Caprimulgus Europaus.

species of the Most of the

others are natives of the warmer climates of Asia, Africa, and America.

The name Goatsucker was given to this bird, or genus of birds, in early times on account of its supposed familiarity with cattle, and of its propensity to suck goats. The French call it Engoulivent, a name signifying "swallower of the wind," which is scarcely more appropriate than the former, though as the bird flies open-mouthed when feeding, and as its gape is very wide, a large current of air sets into its mouth and comes out again at the sides, making a peculiar booming or whirring sound, something like that made by the old-fashioned wheels used in hand-spinning wool. It has obtained some of its common English names from this sound, such as the " Wheel-bird," 'Churn-owl," "Jar-owl," and latterly "Nightjar." It has also been called "Dor-hawk," partly, perhaps, from the sound which it emits having some resemblance to that made by the dor-beetle, and partly also from the number of those beetles which it captures. It has likewise been named "Fern-owl," from its proneness to hawk about the fern brakes in quest of its prey.

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Considerable difference as to size exists in different species; but the colour of the plumage is very similar, and the various tints are so intermingled that the most laborious description must fail to convey any idea of it. The general colours are brown, grey, rufous, and whitish, disposed in a diversity of marks, bands, and spots throughout the plumage.

Goatsuckers are most numerous in those portions of the globe which are favourable to the production of the numerous hosts of insects that are only seen

abroad after sunset; and these are produced in the greatest profusion, Mr. Mudie states, where the seasons are strongly contrasted by alternating drought and rain. The former reduces the land to a state of desolation almost equal to that of winter, and the rains which follow stimulate both the vegetable and insect kingdoms to activity and health. At certain seasons in these latitudes the night air is literally crowded with insects, and the Caprimulgida are consequently present also to keep in check their too rapid multiplication. Phalane and beetles of large size are then upon the wing, and the open mouth of the Goatsucker, with its expanded fringe of vibrissæ, is ready to capture them.

It has been observed that the sounds which they utter are very striking; some have been thus amusingly described by Mr. Waterton, in his "Wanderings." Alluding to the birds of this family which inhabit Demerara, he says: there are nine species here; the largest appears nearly the size of the English wood-owl. Its cry is so remarkable, that having once heard it you will never forget it. When night reigns over those immeasurable wilds, whilst lying in your hammock, you will hear this Goatsucker lamenting like one in deep distress. A stranger would never conceive it to be the cry of a bird, he would say it was the departing voice of a midnight-murdered victim, or the last wailing of Niobe for her poor children, before she was turned into stone. Suppose yourself in hopeless sorrow, begin with a high-toned note, and pronounce ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, each note lower and lower, till the last is scarcely heard, pausing a

moment or two betwixt every note, and you will have some idea of the moaning of the largest Goatsucker in Demerara.

Four other species of Goatsucker articulate some words so distinctly that they have received their names from the sentences they appear to utter, and absolutely bewilder the stranger on his arrival in these parts. The most common one sits down close by your door, and flies and alights three or four yards before you, as you walk along the road, crying, who-are-you, who, who, who-are-you. Another bids you work-away, work, work, work-away. A third cries mournfully, willycome-go, willy, willy, willy, will-come-go; and high up in the country a fourth tells you to whip-poor-will, whip, whip, whip-poor-will.*

An American species, Caprimulgus Carolinensis, utters a cry in sound like chuck-will's-widow, which is its provincial name. Wilson says it is a solitary bird, arriving in Georgia in March, and in Virginia in April. Its cry is heard in the evening, soon after sunset, and with short intermissions is continued for many hours. As morning approaches the sound is renewed, and does not cease until day has fairly dawned. In the day it is not heard at all. It seems plainly to express the words which give its name, each syllable is pronounced leisurely and distinctly, the chief emphasis being on the last word. When the air is still it is said to be heard at the distance of a mile.

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The flight of this bird is low, skimming a few feet above the ground, frequently settling on old logs or

* Wanderings in South America.

Now it follows a road

fences, and thence sweeping around in pursuit of insects which fly at night. It is seen, says Audubon, sweeping over cotton-fields or sugar plantations, cutting all sorts of figures, mounting, descending, or sailing with so much ease or grace that one might be led to call it Fairy of the Night. or path on the wing, and alighting here and there to pick up the beetle emerging from its retreat; again it rises high in air, and gives chase to insects floating there. At other times it poises itself on its wings opposite the trunk of a tree, and seizes the insects crawling on the bark, in this manner inspecting the whole tree, with motions as light as those by which the Humming-bird flutters from one flower to another.

The Trogons (Trogonida) resemble the Goatsuckers in several particulars. They live in the deepest and most gloomy shades during day, where they sit, almost motionless, on a dead branch. During the morning and evening they are more active; at these times they go into the more open parts of the forest, and taking a shady station, dart upon winged insects, particularly hard-coated beetles; at other times, says Mr. Swainson, they feed upon fruits, especially upon the rich purple berries of the different Melastome, at which they invariably dart precisely the same as if they were insects capable of getting away! The Trogons, like the Goatsuckers, have remarkably thin skins; like them they feed upon the wing; the feet of both are so short and feeble, as scarcely to be of any other use than to rest the body; the bill in both is remarkably short; the plumage in both is soft and loose; both

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