INSESSORES. 89 



Sp. 42. PODARGUS MEGACEPHALUS. 



Caprimulgus megacephalus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. Iviii. 

 Great- headed Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 265. 

 Wedge-tailed Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 368 ? 

 Podargus Stanleyanus, Lath. MSS., Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., 

 vol. XV. p. 197 ? 



Podargus megacephalus, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. i. 

 Introd., p. xxviii. 



I believe I have good grounds for regarding the Fodargus 

 megacephalus as distinct from P. humeralis. For many years 

 two birds of this form have lived in the Gardens of the 

 Zoological Society, one of which is doubtless the P. humeralis ; 

 the other, which is much larger and possesses greatly developed 

 mandibles, is to all appearance distinct, and is so considered 

 by the keeper who has charge of these Nocturnes — an opinion 

 in which the learned Secretary also, I believe, coincides 

 but I must admit that the question is an open one, and one 

 to which I would call the attention of those persons resident 

 in Australia who pay attention to ornithology, that they may 

 aid us in its solution. 



The habitat of this species is the brushes of the eastern 

 coast, whence I have received specimens. 



Sp. 43. PODARGUS BRACHYPTERUS, Gould. 



Short-winged Podargus. 

 Podargus hrachypterus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part viii. p. 163. 



Podargus hrachypterus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., Introd., 

 p. xxviii. 



In its general appearance this bird closely resembles the 

 P. humeralis, but is even smaller in size than P. Cuvieri ; at the 

 same time the bill is larger than that of the former species, 

 and projects much further from the face than in any other of 

 its congeners ; it also differs in the shortness of its wings. 



