PICARIAN BIRDS AND PARROTS OF CEYLON. 239 
Sub-order CAPRIMULGI. 
Family CAPRIMULGID 2. 
Genus Caprimulgus, 
Nightjars. 
The Nightjars or Goatsuckers are a family with crepuscular 
and nocturnal habits, found almost all round the world, except 
in the Frigid Zones. The plumage is soft and mottled, and 
the flight noiseless. Their food consists wholly of insects, 
which are generally caught on the wing. The gape of the 
mouth is very wide, but the bill itself is short, weak, and 
flexible. The only genus found in Ceylon is furnished with 
strong rictal bristles, 7.e., bristles bordering the upper man- 
dible of the bill. The wings are long and pointed. The legs 
are rather weak ; the middle toe is long, and furnished on the 
inside of the claw with a comb-like appendage. There is no 
nest, the two protectively coloured eggs being laid on the 
bare ground. The young when hatched are covered with 
down, and are helpless. In one Ceylon species—C. asiaticus— 
the sexes are alike, but generally males are distinguished by 
white spots on the wings and tail. In the females these spots 
are either buff coloured or rufous, or are altogether wanting. 
Three species are found in the Island. 
Rough Key to Ceylon Caprimulgi. 
A.—Tarsus almost entirely naked ; sexes alike ; length 9. 
C. asiaticus (Common. Indian Nightjar). 
B.—Tarsus feathered ; sexes not quite alike ; length 10 
or over. 
(1) Rictal bristles white at the base, a continuous 
white patch across the throat. 
C. macrurus (Horsfield’s Nightjar). 
(2) Rictal bristles dark throughout ; centre line of 
throat dark, dividing the white throat patch 
into two. 
C. indicus (Jungle Nightjar). 
