76 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



representatives in almost every part of the world ; but only- 

 one species occurs in England (the one named above). 



The Common Coat-Sucker in its general appearance is 

 not unlike a cuckoo, and has often been mistaken for one, 

 even by persons with some pretension to ornithological 

 knowledge. It differs from that bird, however, in many 

 essential points. 



The head is very large, and the gape prodigious ; the 

 sides of the month are armed with long bristles, which are 

 supposed to be of use in retaining the insects it collects, as 

 it flies open-mouthed during the crepuscule. 



Like all the members of its famil}', its plumage is hand- 

 some, if not as gaudy as tliat of some of its relations ; and 

 it is especially soft and downy, as becomes a night-flyer, 

 who must needs glide about on noiseless wing in order to 

 effect the capture of its sleeping prey, which it swoops 

 upon, but without settling, while it is secure, or fancies 

 itself secure, in tlic darkness ; for, if report speak the 

 truth, many a small bird disappears down the capacious 

 throat of the prowling night-jar, as this bird is also called, 

 from the season in which it emits its jarring note. 



The general colour above is brown, abundantly waved 

 by narrow black lines, and spotted with dark brown and 

 yellow spots; the wing coverts are broadly edged with 

 yellow or brownish j'ellow, and the three outer flights 

 have each a spot of white about their outer third; the 

 outer tail feathers are also tipped with white. 



The female is duller and darker as to her plumage, 

 and she has no white either on wings or tail. She 

 makes no nest, but lays her two long, narrow eggs on 

 the bare ground. They are greyish white, marked heavily 

 with dark grey spots; but they vary a good deal, both 

 as regards shape and colour. When surprised on her 

 eggs, she will sit very closely, and almost allow herself 



