188 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



and a large gall-bladder; the sternum is short, considerably keeled, 

 with two short emarginations behind in some, or four long ones 

 in others. They usually lay their eggs, which are few in number, 

 on the ground, some in holes of trees, and their young, when 

 hatched, are covered with down. Their food is almost univer- 

 sally insects, captured in the air. One species is said to live a 

 good deal on fruit. 



They are divided by Gray into three sub -families, two of which 

 have representatives in India. 



Sub-fam. Steatornin^, Gray. 



Bill largCj wide, depressed, strong, moderately curved, and 

 strongly hooked ; gape very wide ; the base of the bill covered with 

 feathers and bipectinated bristles ; outer front-claw of some parti- 

 ally reversible. 



This subfamily has the beak greatly larger and stouter 

 than in the typical species. Their attitude is more upright, 

 and they perch crosswise on branches. Some of these groups are 

 said to make a nest of sticks and other materials ; others breed in 

 holes in trees, and they are said to lay two white eggs. 



Gen. Batrachostomus, Gould. 



Syn. Podar(/us, Auct., in part ; Bombycisto7na, Hay. 



Char.— Bill very large, strong, depressed, broad, moderately 

 curved, the tip hooked and overlapping, and the tomiai of the upper 

 mandible also overlapping ; nostrils narrow, lateral, remote, cover- 

 ed by plumes; no true rictal bristles; wings short, rounded; 

 tail long, rounded or graduated ; tarsus short, rather stout, 

 feathered ; toes free, moderately strong ; the outer toe can be half 

 reversed. 



This genus has been lately separated from Podargus. It is 

 confined to India and Malayana. The birds arc mostly of smaller 

 size than true Podargus which is Australian. They have a 

 considerable resemblance in the tints, and markings even, of their 

 plumage to some of the little Scops-owls, and like them they 

 appear to have both a grey phase and a rufous phase. 



