160 AVES INSESSORES. [CAPRIMULGUS. 



DIMENS. Entire length nearly nine inches. TEMM. 



DESCRIPT. All the upper parts of a uniform grayish brown; breast, 

 sides of the abdomen, and under tail-coverts the same : throat, and middle 

 of the belly, pure white: tarsi covered with brown feathers. (Egg.) 

 White : of the same size as that of the last species. 



Shot within eight or ten miles of the south coast of Ireland in 1829, 

 about Midsummer. A second individual has been since killed at Kings- 

 gate, in the Isle of Thanet, and a third in Norfolk. Common in alpine 

 and rocky districts in the southern parts of Europe. Habits somewhat 

 similar to those of the Common Swift. Said to build in the clefts of rocks 

 and old buildings, and to lay three or four eggs. 



GEN. 51. CAPRIMULGUS, Linn. 



136. C. Europceus, Linn. (Europcean Goatsucker.) 

 General colour of the plumage ash-gray, variegated with 

 black, brown, and ferruginous. 



C. Europseus, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 436. Id. torn. in. 

 p. 304. European Goat-sucker, Mont. Orn. Diet. Selb. Illust. vol. i. 

 p. 131. pi. 42*. Night- Jar, Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 302. 



DIMENS. Entire length ten inches four lines : length of the bill (from 

 the forehead) four lines and a half, (from the gape) one inch two lines ; 

 of the tarsus eight lines ; of the tail four inches eight lines ; from the 

 carpus to the end of the wing seven inches nine lines : breadth, wings 

 extended, twenty-two inches. 



DESCRIPT. General colour of the plumage ash-gray, beautifully varie- 

 gated with black, brown, ferruginous, and white, disposed in bars, spots 

 and specks, of different shades and sizes : on the head, and down the 

 middle of the back, some longitudinal black streaks : a little white on the 

 throat, as well as beneath each eye : under parts in general yellowish 

 brown, with transverse undulating lines of black : quills dusky, with fer- 

 ruginous spots on their outer webs ; the three first with also a large white 

 patch on the inner web about midway : tail nearly square, yellowish gray, 

 with transverse zigzag bars of black ; the two outer feathers on each side 

 tipped with white : bill and irides dusky : feet yellowish brown. The 

 female wants the white spots on the tips of the quills and two outer tail- 

 feathers. (Egg.) Of an oval form : ground colour white, mottled with 

 cinereous ; this last colour including spots of two shades of brown : long, 

 diam. one inch two lines ; trans, diam. ten lines and a half. 



One of our latest summer visitants, not appearing before the middle 

 or end of May. Stays till September or October. Generally distributed 

 over the kingdom, but not equally plentiful in all parts. Found prin- 

 cipally in wild uncultivated districts, where there is wood. Habits cre- 

 puscular. Food insects ; particularly the Melolontha tribe, and the larger 

 Lepidoptera. Makes no nest, but lays two eggs on the bare ground 

 amongst fern, heath, or long grass. During the season of incubation 

 the male utters a peculiar noise somewhat resembling that of a spin- 

 ning-wheel. 



