158 



INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



these latter depend very much on their talons for the 

 critical capture of their prey, the little insectivorous bird 

 trusts to its open mouth, which, when expanded, is a 

 formidable trap to an insect wending its homeward way. 

 Such a mouth is rapidly moved forward by almost noise- 



Fig. 36. Owlet Nightjar and Nest. One-fifth natural size, 



less wings. 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 Cole- 

 optera. Its flight is straight, and not characterized by the 



