OnDEIl PASSERES. lOO 



repeating a cry in a very sharp tone, which has been ex- 

 pressed by the compound word ivhip-poor-will, and hence 

 the bird has been so called- It is said to eat bees. Its eggs 

 are greenish brown, with zigzag black stripes; these it 

 deposits negligently, sometimes in the middle of a beaten 

 path. 



The Cayenne, or White-necked Goatsucker, of Latham, 

 is said to be less nocturnal in its habits than the other 

 species ; it is also more sociable, frequenting the vicinity of 

 highways, nor does it move until approached very closely, 

 and then only to a short distance. It is said to utter two 

 sorts of cry, one like that of the toad, and another which has 

 been compared to the barking of a dog ; while uttering the 

 former, it is said to shake the wings. 



The Collared Goatsucker, C. Pectoralis, probably the 

 C. Asiaticus, or Bombay Goatsucker of Ladiam, was ob- 

 served by Levaillant on the banks of the Gamtoo in Africa, 

 where it is very common. 



During the time of incubation the male begins its loud and 

 singular song about an hour after sunset, and if the night 

 be fine, continues till daylight. Levaillant states, that while 

 he had the misfortune to be encamped in the vicinity of 

 these birds, it was impossible for him to sleep on account of 

 their ceaseless singing. The female lays two white eggs, 

 with the shells so exceedingly thin and brittle, that it requires 

 great caution to handle without breaking them. Notwith- 

 standing this, the bird, like those before mentioned, deposits 

 these eggs frequently in the middle of a path. The male 

 sits as well as its female, and when so occupied, the bird will 

 not move on the approach of any one until in actual danger 

 of being trodden on. After the eggs have been touched, 

 they are sure to be removed, and probably to a considerable 

 distance ; for Levaillant, under these circumstances, was 

 never able to find them again. He had an opportunity of 

 observing the mode in which they carried them off, by placing 



