284 PYGMIES AND PAPUANS 



bird's body must rest on the branch to which the nest 

 is attached. 



FAMILIES CAPRIMULGIDJ: AND P0Z>^7^C/Z),-E— NIGHTJARS 

 AND FROG-MOUTHS. 



The common Nightjar of the country found along 

 the shingly banks of the rivers was Caprimulgus macrurus, 

 a widely distributed species. After the ground had been 

 cleared for the base camp at Wakatimi it was visited 

 every evening by a number of Nightjars, which no doubt 

 found such a large open space an admirable hunting- 

 ground and the members of the Expedition derived great 

 pleasure from watching their graceful evolutions. Another 

 very rare Nightjar was Lyncornis papiiensis^ not pre- 

 viously included in the National Collection. Frog- 

 mouths were represented by the larger species Podargus 

 papuensis and the smaller, P. ocellatus. At some of the 

 stopping places on the river night was made hideous 

 by their mournful cries repeated to distraction on every 

 side, and ending up with a sharp snap. 



A single example of the rare Wallace's Owlet-Nightjar 

 (Mgotheles wallacei) was collected by Mr. G. C. Shortridge 

 on the Wataikwa River. It has a peculiar uniform 

 blackish upper plumage, without any trace of a distinct 

 nuchal collar. No doubt, like its Australian ally, it 

 roosts in holes in trees during the daytime and captures 

 its prey on the wing at night, like the true Nightjars, 

 though the flight is said to be less tortuous. 



FAMILY BUCEROTID.E — HORNBILLS. 



The only representative of the Biicerotidce is the 



^ Wreathed Hornbill (Rhyiidoceros plicatus) a large bird 



with a casque formed of overlapping plates on the base 



of the upper mandible. The male is black with the head 



and neck chestnut and the tail white, while the female 



