THE PLUMED POD ARGUS. 



95 



bird however, is so quiet, and its sombre color harmonizes so well with the bark of the branch 

 to which it clings, that even by day it needs a quick and j^ractised eye to discern its fonn. 



These birds almost invariably sit close together in pairs, and they are so incorrigibly 

 drowsy, that if one of the pair be shot, its mate will not be disturbed even by the report of 

 the gun or the fall of its companion, but sit quietly in its place, and may either be knocked 

 down with a stick, shot with a second charge, or taken by hand, as is most convenient. If 

 pushed off the branch by a long rod, the Podargus can barely summon sufficient energy to 

 save itself from falling to the ground, and flapj)ing its wings languidly to the nearest bough, 

 settles, and is almost immediately wrapped in sleep, thus practically carrying out the com- 

 plaint of Dr. Watts' sluggard, "You have waked me too soon, I must slumber again."' 

 Sometimes, however, it is known to fly by day without being thus violently disturbed, but 

 such instances of diui'ual liveliness are extremely rare, and may be considered exceptional. 



As soon, however, as the daylight fades out of the sky, the Podargus awakes from its 

 stupor, and after a few shaldngs and plumings of feathers, becomes a most lively and. ani- 



NBW HOLLAND GOAT-SVCKER.—yEgot/iem novm-hoUanaim. (See page 9G.) 



mated bird, quick, light, and active in all its movements, and scarcely to be recognized as the 

 same being which but a few hours ago seemed hardly able to move a head or limb without 

 difficulty. At the earliest approach of nightfall the Tawny-shouldered Podargus sets oii 

 on its travels in search of food, and chases the insects on which it feeds with great agility and 

 perseverance. 



A MITCH smaller but very beautiful example of the Podargi is the Moth Plumed Podar- 

 gus (Podargus phalcenoMes), so called on account of the exquisitely soft tinting of its feathers, 

 which bear a very close resemblance to the velvet plumage of the large moths. The moth -like 

 hues are most perceptible upon the wing-coverts, wliich are thickly sown with marldngs that 

 closely resemble the "eyes" found upon the wings of so many large moths, and that add so 

 much to their beauty. These "eyes" are very like those which decorate the wings of the 

 well-knowTi Emperor moth, but are devoid of the brilliant colors of that insect, and are com- 

 posed of different shades of gray and brown. 



Lastly, the Plumed Podargus deserves notice on account of the singular development 

 of the feathers of the nostrils, which rise to a considerable height, and are richly spotted with 

 black, brown, and white, forming a kind of plume over the forehead. It is a large and hand- 



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