46 THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 



collective one of "Autumn Manoeuvres" might be associated, and the male bird in 

 pursuance of the foregoing suggestion having authoritatively persuaded his companion 

 to yield him the monopoly of the perch, a drill performance follows, in which the routine 

 exercises of " shoulder arms," " ground arms," " trail arms," " reverse arms," &c., are 

 faultlessly executed, and culminate finally in the assumption of an attitude of the 

 most rigid "attention." 



Glancing briefly at the remaining figures illustrative of the special habits or 

 attitudes of these Podargi, reference may be made, among others, to Fig. 18, of Plate IX. 

 In this instance the birds are sound asleep, literally "caught napping" in broad day- 

 light. It is worthy of remark, in this connection, that to sleep throughout the day 

 and be awake all night, after the manner of ordinary owls, by no means represents 

 the customaiy habit of this species. As in the case of the British Fern-owl or 

 Goat-sucker, Caprimulgus, Podargus is essentially dusk-loving, or crepuscular. On 

 several occasions when the birds were visited in the middle of the night they were 

 found to be as sound asleep as any ordinary diurnal species. While occasionally 

 sleeping for a short interval, as in the instance portrayed, they are for the most part 

 wide-awake, though not actively disposed, during the day. It is on the approach of 

 dusk and throughout the twilight hours, however, that they display most energy. 

 Indulging their very distinctly manifested inclinations, it was customary at these times 

 to give them a free run in the garden or to carry them about hawkwise, but untethered, 

 on the hand. For safety's sake, and to guard against the possible chance of their 

 straying into neighbouring premises where cats or other enemies might assail them, it 

 was considered desirable to keep one of each of their wings cut. On such occasions, 

 however, as their feathers were allowed to grow sufficiently long to be serviceable, 

 the only use they made of them was to fly to or after their owners. 



An explanation of the remarkable tameness and domesticity exhibited by this 

 pair of Podargi is probably to be found in the circumstances relating to their 

 commissariat; cupboard-love, the world over, is the most persuasive of moral levers. 

 The difficulty of keeping these birds in captivity has been recognised at most of the 

 various Zoological Gardens where the attempt has been made. The chief obstacle 

 encountered in all instances has been the food question. The natural pabulum 

 of Podargus consists almost exclusively of insects, including moths, beetles, and 

 more especially the large Heteropterous Cicada which abound in the Australian 

 Eucalyptus forests, and which in their sleeping positions on the tree trunks and 

 branches fall an easy prey to these crepuscular birds. Living-insect-food being 



