CAPRIMULGUS. GOATSUCKER. 631 



third much longer ; the anterior toes directed forward, and 

 connected by membranes as far as the second joint. The claws 

 are very small, arched, compressed, rather blunt, that of the 

 middle toe proportionally longer, curved outwards, and having 

 its inner convex edge expanded and pectinated, being cut into 

 parallel teeth. 



Plumage full, blended, very soft ; the feathers generally ovate 

 and obtuse. Along the base of the upper mandible is a series 

 of very large flattened bristle-feathers, which are directed out- 

 wards. Wings very long and narrow, with twenty quills; the 

 primaries very strong, the second quill longest, the first little 

 shorter, the rest rapidly graduated ; the secondaries rather short, 

 broad, and rounded. Tail very long, of ten broad rounded 

 feathers, and generally rounded, but sometimes even, or emar- 

 ginate or forked. 



The Goatsuckers fly in the dusk, in gloomy weather, or in 

 the shade of woods, and feed on insects of various kinds, but 

 especially moths and beetles, which they seize on wing. They 

 move with great velocity, but without producing a noise audible 

 at any distance, and perform their evolutions in the same 

 manner, and nearly with as much ease, as the Swallows. Many 

 authors state that they fly with open mouth ; but this asser- 

 tion is not founded on observation, is contrary to analogy, and 

 indeed to reason ; for as the pharynx is wide, and as there is 

 no valve or peculiar stricture on the oesophagus, that and the 

 stomach would necessarily be filled with air, were the bird to 

 advance with velocity. Their feet are not formed for grasp- 

 ing, so that when resting on a bough they generally place 

 themselves directly and not transversely upon it. They often 

 also rest on the ground. They are incapable of walking other- 

 wise than in a constrained and hobbling manner. They breed 

 on the ground, depositing their eggs, which are generally two, 

 in a bare place either exposed or in the shelter of trees. Species 

 of this genus occur in most parts of the globe, but are not nume- 

 rous. In Britain there is only one, which departs in autumn, 

 to return in the beginning of summer. 



These birds exhibit a strong afiinity to the Swallows on the 

 one hand, and to the Owls on the other. They resemble the 



