196 Mr. ViGORs's and Dr. Horsfi eld's Description of the 



also are short and feeble, and the toes weak and irregular ; the 

 middle toe, however, is furnished with a serrated nail, which 

 seems in some measure to compensate for the general deficiency 

 of the member, the serration being apparently intended, as has 

 been observed in a former volume of our " Transactions," for 

 the purposes of seizure*. The present genus JEgotheles evidently 

 exhibits a deviation from these typical characters. The wings 

 lose the superior powers of flight displayed in the true Capri- 

 ?nii/gus, and instead of being long and acuminated become 

 short and rounded ; the bill and legs assume somewhat of the 

 length and strength usually attached to these parts ; while as 

 the latter members regain their general powers, the serration of 

 the middle unguis, which accompanied the weaker conformation, 

 entirely disappears. The rictal bristles also partially lose their 

 strength and regularity of disposition ; and here, as well as in the 

 succeeding group of Podargus, seem to be transferred to the 

 front or base of the bill. 



The distinction between Mgotheles and the true Coprimulgus 

 is thus sufticiently evident. From M. Cuvier's genus Podargus 

 the former group also ditfers in its general comparatively weaker 

 conformation, holding in this respect an intermediate place 

 between Caprimulgus and Podargus. The bill is more depressed 

 than in Podargus, and more generally widened towards the 

 ape.i : the shape and the disposition of the nares also, as well as 

 the structure of the (}uill-feathers, is different. The tarsi are 

 weaker and more compressed, and at the same time compara- 

 tively more elongated : and the toes are nearly even, while in 

 Vodaigus the middle toe is considerably longer than the rest. 

 We have hitherto met with but one species belonging to this 

 form which seems confined to New Holland. 



* Vol. xiv. p. 407. 



1. Nov.ï: 



