320 ZOOLOGY. 



great dexterity on the wing in the dusk of the evening. They usually 

 spend the day like the owls in the darkest recesses of the forest. Incuba- 

 tion is generally performed upon the ground ; no nest is constructed, but 

 a dry, sheltered spot only selected, wherein two eggs only are deposited. 



There is but one well established European species, which is the Capri- 

 mulgus europoius, and even it is not very common. It partakes exclusively 

 of the general habits of its sub-family. 



The species best known in North America is the Whip-poor-will, so 

 called from its very remarkable note. " These notes," says Wilson, " seem 

 pretty plainly to articulate the words which have been generally applied 

 to them, whip-poor-will, the first and last syllables being uttered with great 

 emphasis, and the whole in about a second to each repetition ; but when two 

 or more males meet, their whip-poor-will altercations become much more 

 rapid and incessant, as if each were striving to overpower or silence the 

 other. When near, you often hear an introductory click between the notes. 

 Towards midnight they generally become silent, unless in clear moonlight, 

 when they are heard with little intermission till morning." A much larger 

 species, the Chuck-wills-widow, so called also from its note, inhabits the 

 southern part of the United States. 



Many species of this sub-family are found in all parts of the world. 



The common European species, C. europceus {pi. 103, ßg. 6), resembles, 

 to some extent, in general appearance and habits, the whip-poor-will, though 

 it is almost without voice. 



Sub-fam. 2. Podargincs, or Large Night Hawks. Bill short, curved at 

 the point, very strong, gape enormous ; base of the bill with projecting 

 plumes, but without bristles. Tarsi and feet short, and comparatively 

 weak ; tail rather long. Wings moderate. Size large. 



These extraordinary birds are the largest of this family, many of the 

 species being as large as the common crow. On account of the unusual 

 broadness of their heads, and consequent wideness of their mouths and 

 throats, they present a very grotesque and singular appearance. 



The genus Podargus, which embraces the greater number of the species, 

 is confined to Australia and some other of the most southerly islands of the 

 Pacific ocean. In Australia the largest species {P. cinereus) lives in thick 

 woods, venturing out on the wäng only in the evening. It lives upon 

 winged insects, and has been named by the colonists, in imitation of its 

 note, "More pork." Another genus [Batrachostomus) is found in the 

 interior of India. 



In America the singular genus Steatornis is found. It contains one 

 species only, which was discovered in caverns in South America by the 

 celebrated Humboldt, and is remarkable for possessing a strongly hooked 

 bill and other rapacious characters, showing a close affinity to the owls. 

 It is said, however, to subsist upon fruits, and that it is eaten by the 

 natives. Another American genus is Nyctihius, which contains several 

 large species inhabiting South America, of which may be mentioned the 

 N. grandis, a species as large as a hen. 



Sub-fam. 3. Podagerince. Bill much depressed, \vith the culmen curved 

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