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In moft of their external charafters thefe birds are very nearly allied to 

 the fwallov,- tribe, and have even been ranked by fome naturaliits in that genus. 

 In faft there is no impropriety in regarding them as a kind of nofburnal fwallows ; 

 and Linnxus, in the Syftema Naturae, very properly obferves that they are as 

 nearly allied to fwallows as moths are to butterflies, or as owls to hawks. 



Of all the birds of the genus Caprimulgus, the fpecles here reprelented is 

 by far the largeft. It is a native of Cayenne in South America. It is in 

 fize not far fhort of a buzzard. The colour is a dull pale ochre, or cream- 

 colour, fpeckled and varied with innumerable fpots and marks of brown. The 

 long-feathers of the wings and tail are barred with brown and whitilh : the 

 legs are Ihort, and coated almoft to the toes with fmall feathers. 



The goatfuckers in general are folitary birds. The name Caprimulgus or 

 Goatfucker was given to this genus from the popular fuperftition of the com- 

 mon European fpecies being fuppofed to fuck the teats of Iheep and goats. 



PSI T- 



