70 FISSIROSTRES NOCTURNI. 



during the day. When seizing prey, their mouth 

 is widely opened, and the long rigid hairs with 

 which its base is surrounded materially assist in the 

 capture of insects. The Hight of these birds is 

 exceedingly rapid, and accompanied by graceful 

 evolutions similar to those of the Swallow, but per- 

 formed with even greater ease and facility. Their 

 eyes are large and of the true nocturnal character. 

 Although the beak is small, the gape is enormous, 

 extending below the eyes, and reminding us of the 

 mouth of a toad ; hence these birds are called by 

 the French " Crapauds volants." The j^lumage is 

 full and soft, and beautifully variegated with dots, 

 bars, dashes, and zig-zag markings, of mingled 

 grey, brown, fawn-colour, black, and white ; difficult 

 to describe, and almost as difficult to imitate. Kapid 

 and abrupt as is the flight of these birds, it is noise- 

 less, resembling in that respect the flight of the 

 Owl, although from the form of their wings it is of 

 a different character. 



The Goatsuckers form no nest ; but generally 

 deposit two eggs on some dry spot beneath the 

 shelter of ferns and other underwood. 



The type of this family — 



The European Goatsucker {Caprimulgus* Europceus), 

 is not uncommon in England ; it is, however, a bird of 

 passage, retiring to the warm regions of the South in the 

 autumn, and returning in the month of May. It measures 

 about ten or eleven uiclies in length, including the tail, 

 which is rather long. The bill and legs are short and 

 feeble, so tliat it perches with difficulty, and when resting 

 on the bough of a tree, jilaces itself lengthways upon the 

 branch, upon wliicli it crouches, as if fearful of falling 

 off. The middle anterior toe is considerably longer than 

 the others, and terminated by a claw singularly toothed, 

 so as to resemble a comb. The Goatsucker is usually 

 met with about moors, heaths, and commons ; but it also 

 frequents woods. ]ts period of activity is the twilight, 

 when it may be seen hawking after its favourite food, 



* Caiyra, a slie-goat ; miihjeo, to milk; Goat-milker. 



