166 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



OWLET NIGHTJAR, 



(Little Morepork), 



iflgotheles noyae-hollaiidiaB, Lath. 



Ego-thelefi iid-ve-hol-an di-e. 

 Aigos, a goat ; tJiacin, to suckle ; novce-hollandice, of New Holland, 



.^GOTHELES Nov.^-HOLLANDI^, Gould, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. 



ii., pi. I. 



Geographical Distribution. — The whole of Australia and Tasmania. 



Key to the Species. — Mouth very much split ; gape very wide ; two 

 stripes on brown head and two crescents on hinder part white ; 

 back, rump, upper wing coverts and upper tail coverts deeply 

 vermiculated with pale grey ; tail barred ; wing quills grey marbled 

 and spotted ; lower parts whitish, with dusky vermiculations. 

 Total length, 8.5 inches. Some specimens show a rufous tinge 

 over the body. 



The Owlet Niglitjar is a member of the weak-footed order of 

 birds, and though resembling the Owls in its nocturnal habits 

 and general appearance, is opposed to this group in so far as 

 the latter belong to the strong-footed order. The Owls 

 depend to a large extent on their talons for the capture of 

 their prey, whilst their smaller insectivorous relative trusts to 

 its wide mouth, which, when opened to its fullest extent, as 

 the bird flies noiselessly and rapidly along, presents a formid- 

 able trap to any insects that may be flying within its reach 

 during the night. 



Mr, Gould writes of this species : — '* During the day it 

 resorts to the hollow branches, or spouts, as they are called, 

 and the boles of the gum-trees, sallying forth as night 

 approaches in quest of insects, particularly small Coleoptera. 

 Its flight is straight, and not characterized by the sudden 

 turns and descents of the Caprimulgi " {i.e., the previous 

 species). " On driving it from its haunts I have observed 



