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88 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
83. CAPRIMULGUS NATALENSIS. Natal Nightjar. 
This small species was discovered by Sir Andrew Smith near 
Port Natal, and seems to be confined to that country, as, although 
recorded by Dr. Kirk from the Zambesi, we find that his specimens 
really belong to OC. mossambicus. 
It not unfrequently occurs in Natal collections. Mr. Ayres writes 
concerning it :—“ The stomach was full of large and hard beetles 
swallowed whole. These birds roost on the ground among the grass; 
if disturbed, they fly a short distance and alight again ; they feed 
only at night, and are fond of frequenting roads or any other bare 
grounds; they rise from the ground, and catch any beetle that 
passes, immediately alighting again. The flight of this Goatsucker 
is noiseless ; its note is extremely liquid and mellow; it builds its 
nest in the grass and lays two white eggs.” Mr. E. C. Buxton when 
travelling in Natal met with this bird just beyond the Bombo moun- 
tains. 
The Natal Nightjar is a small species, and may be distinguished 
by its having the terminal half of the outer tail-feather pure white, 
extending nearly to the base of the outer web. The male has four 
white spots on the primaries, which are otherwise uniform; in the 
female these spots are sandy buff, and near the base is a second large 
sandy coloured bar: the outer tail-feather also is brown barred with 
dull sandy. The coloration of this Nightjar is different from any 
other species known from South Africa, being a mixture of yellowish 
buff and black, the latter forming large spade-shaped spots on the 
scapulars. ‘Total length, 8:5 inches; wing, 63. 
Fig. Smith, Il. Zool. 8. Afr., Aves, pl. 99. 
84. CAPRIMULGUS MOSSAMBICUS. Mozambique Nightjar. 
Two specimens of this bird were procured by Dr. Kirk at Tete 
during the Zambesi expedition, and these are all that we have seen 
from South Africa. It is probably the species identified by Dr. 
Kark (Ibis, 1864, p. 31) as C. natalensis, “ obtained in the plains 
near the sea-coast ;” as his Zambesi collection contains no specimen 
of the Natal Nightjar. 
This species, as well as its near ally C, fossi, may be distinguished 
