THE TRUE NIGHT-JARS. 45 



THE NIGHT-JARS. SUB-ORDER CAPRIMULGI. 



These birds, familiarly known as Goat-Suckers, have much 

 similarity to the Swifts as regards their structure, but differ from 

 them in many points of anatomy. One great difference, how- 

 ever, is seen in the character of the nestlings, which are covered 

 with down. The palate is generally said to be " schizogna- 

 thous," but in Caprimulgus it seems to be segithognathous 

 (see infra), and basipterygoid processes are present. In the 

 character of the plumage they differ entirely from the close- 

 set, hard feathering of the Swifts, and are remarkable for the 

 soft and delicate nature of their body-feathers, which are like 

 those of the Owls, and even resemble the latter in their zig- 

 zag markings and spots. They are almost all crepuscular 

 birds, coming out to seek their food in the twilight, though 

 they can fly very fairly in the daytime, but do not willingly take 

 flight unless disturbed. 



The Night-Jars are distributed all over the world, except in 

 the extreme north and south, and they are also absent in the 

 islands of the Pacific Ocean. 



There are two families, the True Night- Jars (Caprimulgida) 

 and the Moth-plumaged Night- Jars (Nyctibiida), the latter being 

 only found in Tropical America. 



THE TRUE NIGHT-JARS. FAMILY 

 CAPRIMULGID^E. 



Distinguished by their pectinated middle claw, which has a 

 comb-like edge. Only four phalanges are found in the outer 

 toe. The gape is very wide, and when the mouth is opened, 

 the extent is enormous, and in most cases is beset with a 

 number of strong, spiny bristles. 



The range of the Family extends nearly all over the globe, 

 with the exceptions above stated. It contains about eighteen 

 genera, some of which are beautifully decorated and carry long 

 streamers in the wings and tail, or have other ornamental 

 plumes during the breeding-season. 



THE TRUE NIGHT-JARS. GENUS CAPRIMULGUS. 

 Caprimulgus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 346 (1766). 



Type, C. europccus (Linn.). 

 In these birds the skull is aegithognathous, with the vomer 



