82 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



DISPOSITION AND GENERAL HABITS. Very sociable, 



always in flocks. They sleep huddled together. 

 ECONOMIC QUALITIES. They are destructive birds 



where fruit is grown, but esteemed as food by the 



Kaffirs. 

 CAPTIVITY. They are seldom seen in this condition, 



but are easy to keep. They have not been bred. 

 DISTRIBUTION AND SPECIES. Africa, south of the 



Sahara, in wooded and bushy country. There 



are fourteen species, very similar in general 



appearance. 



NIGHTJARS (Caprimulgida). 



DIAGNOSIS. Birds with very small beak and wide mouth, 

 and small feet, with all front toes joined at base. 



SIZE. From that of a pheasant to that of a lark. 



FORM. Beak very small, with tubular nostrils and corner 

 of the wide mouth beneath eye ; feet with short 

 shanks, and all front toes webbed at base ; hind- 

 toe small. Wings usually long ; tail various, 

 generally rather long. Head large and flat, with 

 large eyes ; neck short ; body very small. 



PLUMAGE. Feathering soft, very minutely variegated, 

 producing a bark -like effect, in drab or brown ; 

 little sex-difference, when any is present, and no 

 seasonal change ; young much like adults. Bristly 

 feathers along the mouth commonly found, and 

 some of the wing-feathers abnormal in certain 

 species. 



YOUNG. Downy, and capable of some activity, but 

 fed by the parents. Down variegated, pattern 

 protective. 



NEST. None ; the eggs being laid on the bare ground. 



EGGS. Two ; variegated, resembling pebbles. 



