96 



THE WHITE-BELLIED NIGHTJA R. 



sonic bird, and is generally found in the deepest bushes upon the banks of rivers of New 

 South Wales. Its scientific title is Podargivs plumiferus. 



The Mew Holland Goat-suckek is a very tine and beautifully marked bird, its plumage 

 being richly mottled with black and brown upon its upper surface, while the under surface 

 is rusty gray, curiously variegated with buff. The tail is bailed with darker bands. 



Tins bird is very owl-like in its appearance and many of its habits, and has therefrom 

 received the popular title of Owlet Nightjar. In tlte shape of its head, and the steady 

 upright carriage, it bears a great resemblance to the Coquimbo Owl, a likeness which is further 



WSMfm ■ , 



GREAT-EARED GOAT-SUCKER.- Batrachostomus auritus. 



carried out by the sharp, angry hiss which it emits when irritated. Like the owls, it also 

 possesses the habit of twisting its head so that the beak is brought on a level with the spine. 



The New Holland Goat-sucker resides in the hollow branches of the eucalypti, technically 

 called "spouts" by the colonists. When the sportsman wishes to know whether a "spout" 

 is occupied by one of these birds, he lias nothing more to do Than to administer a sharp tap to 

 the branch with a stick or axe. Should the bird lie at home, it runs quickly to the entrance, 

 pops out its head, and, after surveying the intruder for a moment, retires into the seclusion of 

 its domicile. It will repeat this process several times, but at last loses patience at the frequent 

 interruptions, ami fairly takes to flight. In these "spouts" the eggs are laid, being placed 

 simply upon the soft decaying wood. The eggs are white in color, and from three to five in 

 number. There are generally two broods of young in the year. The bird is nocturnal, and 

 its principal food consists of insects, mostly of the coleopterous order. 



the very singular arrangement 



A closely allied species is worthy of notice on account o 

 of color upon its head. 



This is the White-bellied Nightjar ( Mr/ot7ieIe-<t leitcoc/aster), which may be distinguished 

 from all its relatives by the white hue of the under surface of its body, and the three broad 



