GoATSL'CKEH. LNSESSORES. CAPRIMULGUS. 133 



such great lateral extent, it has been suggested that the bird 

 may possibly be capable of turning the eye in its socket, so 

 far as to look through this almost transparent veil in a straight 

 forward direction, when the mouth is extended in its noctur- 

 nal flights. I have consequently directed my attention to this 

 point, but as yet without any satisfactory result. 



I have not been able to discover any peculiar muscles at- 

 tached to the eye or its coats, that can enable the bird to 

 turn it in the direction suggested ; and I may here observe 

 also, that the size and prominence of this important organ 

 gives it, in its fixed position, a sufficient field of vision for all 

 the purposes of flight and capture of its prey. 



The winter retreat of the Goatsucker is presumed to be 

 in Africa and Asia, as the specimens from both countries cor- 

 respond with our own. According to Temminck, it is com- 

 mon in France and Germany, but rare in Holland. 



Plate 42 *. A male bird of the natural size. 



General plumage ash-grey, spotted and streaked with yel- (ieneial 



lowish-brown. On the head, and down the middle of '^'.'^^'^'I'l'- 



' _ turn. 



the back, run long black streaks. Throat having large ^i^Iq jjird. 

 white spots. Under parts yellowish-brown, with trans- 

 verse blackish-brown bars. Outer webs of the quills 

 scolloped with orange-brown ; the three exterior feathers 

 having a large white patch on the inner webs near their 

 tips. Tail marked with zigzag lines or bars of black, 

 grey, and yeUowish-brown ; the two outer feathers on 

 each side tipped with white. Bill very short; colour 

 blackish-brown. Gape very wide. Irides dark. Legs 

 short, yellowish-brown. The whole of the plumage is 

 very soft, and silky to the touch. 

 The female is without the white spots on the quill-feathers Female. 

 and the white upon the tips of the outer tail-feathers. 

 In other respects she resembles the male bird. 



