THE WHITE-BELLIED NIGHTJAR 



117 



its feathers, which bear a very close resemblance to the velvet plumage of the large 

 moths. The moth-like hues are most perceptible upon the wing-coverts, which are thickly 

 sown with markings that closely resemble the " eyes " found upon the wings of so many 

 large moths, and that add so much to their beauty. These "eyes" are very like those 

 which decorate the wings of the well-known Emperor moth of England, biit are devoid 

 of the brilliant colours of that insect, and are composed of different shades of grey and 

 brown. 



Lastly, the Plumed Podaegtjs deserves notice on account of the singular development 

 of the feathers of the nostrils, which rise to a considerable height, and are richly spotted 

 with Ijlack, brown, and white, forming a kind of plume over the forehead. It is a large 

 and handsome bird, and is generally found in the deepest bushes upon the banks of rivers 

 of New South Wales. Its scientific title is Podargus plumiferus. 



The New Holland Goat- 

 sucker is a very fine and beauti- 

 fully marked bird, its plumage 

 being richly mottled with black 

 and brown upon its upper surface, 

 while the imder surface is rusty 

 grey, curiously variegated with 

 buff. The tail is barred with 

 darker bands. 



This bird is very owl-like in 

 its appearance and many of its 

 habits, and has therefrom received 

 the popular title of Owlet Night- 

 jar. In the shape of its head, 

 and the steady upright carriage, it 

 bears a great resemblance to the 

 Coquimbo Owl, a likeness which 

 is further carried out by the shaip, 

 angry hiss which it emits when 

 irritated. Like the owls, it also 

 possesses the habit of twisting its 

 head so that the beak is brought 

 on a level with the spine. 



The New Holland Goat-sucker resides in the hollow branches of the eucalypti, 

 technically called "spouts" by the colonists. When the sportsman wishes to know 

 whether a " spout " is occupied by one of these birds, he has nothing more to do than to 

 administer a sharp tap to the branch with a stick or axe. Should the bird be at home, it 

 runs quickly to the entrance, pops out its head, and, after surveying the intruder for 

 a moment, retires into the seclusion of its domicile. It will repeat this process several 

 times, but at last loses patience at the frequent interruptions, and fairly takes to flight. 

 In these " spouts " the eggs are laid, being placed simpily upon the soft decaying wood. 

 The eggs are white in colour, and from three to five in numT)er. There are generally two 

 broods of young in the year. The bird is nocturnal, and its principal food consists 

 of insects, mostly of the coleopterous order. 



A closely allied species is worthy of notice on account of the very singular aiTangement 

 of colour upon its head. 



This is the White-bellied Nightjar [jEgotheles leucogaster), which may be distinguished 

 from all its relatives by the white hue of the rmder surface of its body, and the three 

 broad dark bands which surround its head and the upper pai-t of its neck. One of these 

 bands is short, and is placed just above the beak, while the other two sweep in bold curves, 

 being very wide upon the top of the head, and narrowing rapidly to the corner of the eye. 



NEW HOLLAND GOAT-SUCKBR.— ^joWnSics Horn Hollatidim. 



