OF VICTORIA. 159 



sudden turns and descents of the Caprimulgi " {i.e., the pre- 

 vious species). " On driving it from its haunts I have some- 

 times observed it fly direct to a similar hole in another tree, 

 but more frequently parallel to it. When assailed in its re- 

 treat it emits a loud hissing noise, and has the same stooping- 

 motion of the head observable in the Owls ; it also re- 

 sembles that tribe of birds in its erect carriage, the manner 

 in which it sets out the feathers round the ears and neck, 

 and in the power it possesses of turning the head in every 

 direction, even over the back, a habit it is constantly 

 practising. A pair I had for some time in captivity 

 frequently leapt towards the top of the cage, and had a 

 singular mode of running or shuffling backwards to one 

 corner of it." 



When traversing the woods the usual mode of ascertain- 

 ing its presence is by tapping with a stone or a tomahawk 

 at the base of the hollow tree, when the little inmate will 

 almost invariably ascend to the outlet, and peep over to 

 ascertain the cause of the disturbance. If the tree be lofty, 

 or its hole appears inaccessible to those beneath, it will 

 very likely retire to its hiding-place, and there remain till 

 the annoyance be repeated. It then flies off" to a place of 

 greater security. 



There are three other species of nightjars in Victoria, 

 mentioned above, and all bear a likeness to the birds 

 universally known as goat-suckers. 



Nest. — Simply the dust in a hollow of a tree, a few inches 

 down. 



Eggs. — Three or four to a sitting ; white. Length, 

 1 inch ; breadth, 0'85 inch. 



