^H^H THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 171 



would appear to have been described from specimens obtained 

 in New Guinea, but has been found at Rockhampton Bay and 

 Cape York, both being in the far northern parts of Queensland. 



These birds, as is the case with the whole family of night-jars, 

 are, strictly speaking, friends of the farmer and fruit-grower — also 

 to mankind generally — subsisting, as they do, entirely on insects 

 (mostly night-flying kinds) ; also on mice, rats, and many of 

 the reptilia. 



The adult bird is a somewhat ugly-looking customer, about the 

 size of a small pullet. Colour — brown, black, and grey; with a 

 strong hooked beak and an enormous gape, which renders the bird 

 capable of capturing even swift-flying insects whilst on the wing. 



The young of the Mopoke is a queer, fluffy little creature 

 (see specimen here exhibited), and the quantity of food which 

 even a young one will eat is quite astonishing. The eggs (two in 

 number) are white., and are deposited in a flat nest constructed of 

 small sticks on the horizontal branches of trees, and are, as a 

 rule, not uncommonly met with. 



This species of Podargus, like other members of this large 

 family of birds, are nocturnal in their habits, and to the traveller 

 who, by necessity or otherwise, has to camp under the proverbial 

 gum tree, the swift, heavy flight of the Mopoke is well known • 

 and although the peculiar cry of " Mopoke" is well known (which 

 noise, according to Messrs. Campbell, Le Souef, and others, is 

 not caused by this bird at all, as is supposed, but by the Boobook 

 Owl, a much smaller bird), it cannot be mistaken for any other 

 bird. 



With regard to the peculiar noise made by the Podargus, there 

 would seem to be a great difference of opinion, more especially 

 as the celebrated ornithologist Gould tells us that a tame 

 Podargus which he had in Tasmania used to perch upon the back 

 of a chair and emit the cry of " Mopoke ;" and although I have 

 always been under the impression that the noise above mentioned 

 was really made by the Podargus, I have no reason whatever to 

 doubt the accuracy of the observations made by Messrs. Campbell 

 and Le Souef. This is, however, a matter which I think requires 

 some further investigation. 



The Mopoke is a bird which, together with the Gigantic King- 

 fisher, or Laughing Jackass, ought to be protected at al) hazards, 

 as they are perfectly harmless and are two of our best friends, 

 more especially to the forester, as many of his worst insect 

 enemies are night-flyers, as Longicorns, &c. 



The entomologist, however, does not find a friend in this bird, 

 because he is robbed of what he is pleased to call his legitimate 

 property. 



Incubating months, from end of January to end of November, 

 but principally September, October, and November. 



Found also in South Australia and Tasmania. 



