116 THE MOTH-PLUMED PODAEGUS. 



of the gun or the full of its companion, but sit quietly in its place, and may eitlier 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 flapping its wings languidly 

 to the nearest bough, settles, and is almost immediately wrapped in sleep, thus practically 

 carrying out the complaint 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 diurnal 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 shakings and plumings of feathers, becomes a most lively and 

 animated bird, quick, light, and active in all its movements, and scarcely to be recognised 

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

 great agility and perseverance. Sometimes it runs stealthily along a bough, and picks off 

 the locusts and cicadre, as they cling sleeping to the bark, or traces them into the hollow 

 eucalyptus branches, where they pass the night, and pecks them out with such haste, that 

 it swallows no small quantity of the decayed wood together with the insects. 



It is not particularly good on the wing, its flights being but short and abrupt, owing to 

 the comparative small size and concave form of the wings. This structure is found in all 

 the birds belonging to this genus, and causes them to trust for their food rather to their 

 power of detecting and capturing sleeping insects, than to their capabilities of pursuing 

 their flying prey through the air. In this particular they differ greatly from the Goat- 

 sucker of England, which is remarkable for its great powers and agility of wing, and 

 taking almost the whole of its prey while flying. The stomach of this bird is found, when 

 dissected, to be lined with hair, in a manner very similar to that of the English cuckoo. 

 The voice is loud, hoarse, and rather startling when heard for the first time, although not 

 so stridulous as that of the Guacharo. 



The nest of the Tawny-Shouldered Podargus is of very slight construction, being 

 made of little sticks laid upon the horizontal j)art of some convenient tree, usually the 

 eucalyptus, or gum-tree as it is more commonly termed, and is nearly flat in shape. The 

 eggs are white, and generally two in number ; their length is nearly two inches. It is 

 proved that the male takes his turn in sitting upon the eggs, and that while one bird 

 is engaged in incubation, its mate always seats itself on a neighbouring bough and bears 

 it company. 



In its tinting this bird is extremely variable, some species being much gayer than 

 others. A rich tawny hue is dashed liberally over the sombre brown which forms the 

 ground tint of its body and wdngs, and is especially conspicuous on the shoulders, where 

 it warms into a ruddy chesnut. The species may be easily distinguished from its relatives 

 by the white spots which are scattered upon the top of its head. 



Anothee very curious species of Podargus is that bird which is popularly known to 

 the settlers under the title of " More Pork ! " because its curious cry forms a very excellent 

 imitation of those words. Its more scientific name is Cuviee's Podaegus, or Podargus 

 Cuvieri. 



This is a smaller bird than the preceding, but resembles it in many of its habits, 

 sleepiness among the rest. While slumbering, the Cuvier's Podargus throws its head back- 

 ward, so that the top of the beak points upwards, and it sleeps so soundly that even the 

 report of a gun will not disturb it from its repose. It is a very familiar bird, and is fond 

 of approaching human habitations and feeding in the verandahs. As it is also in the 

 habit of frequenting burial grounds and sitting on the tomb-stones, it is reckoned a bird of 

 ill omen, and its visits are not at all encouraged. Like the preceding bird, it is extremely 

 variable in the colou^rs of its plumage. 



A MUCH smaller but very beautiful example of the Podargi is the Moth Pluivied 

 Podaegus, {Podargus phalceno'ides,) so called on account of the exquisitely soft tinting of 



