136 cassell's book of birds. 



by the name of butter or oil (tnantece or aceite) of the Guachero ; it is half liquid, transparent, without 

 smell, and so pure that it may be kept above a year without becoming rancid. At the convent of 

 Caripe no other oil is used in the kitchen of the monks but that of the cavern, and we never observed 

 that it gave the aliments a disagreeable taste or smell." 



Funck, who also visited the cavern above described, states that the Guacheros leave their nests 

 after darkness has completely closed in, and that their harsh, raven-like cry may then be heard as 

 they fly about in quest of food. Fruit forms their usual nourishment, and this they will swallow, 

 even if as large as a Pigeon's egg ; but the seeds and kernels they reject as indigestible. The nest 

 is constructed of clay, and the brood consists of from two to four eggs. Grosz also gives an account 

 very similar to that of Humboldt respecting another stronghold of the Oil Birds, called the Ravine 

 of Iconongo, that he visited in New Granada. This extensive nesting-place is about half a mile long, 

 and from thirty to forty feet broad, and had to be entered by means of a rope let down from above. 

 Grosz fortunately succeeded in obtaining many Guacheros, both dead and alive, and made valuable 

 observations relative to their demeanour and habits. Their movements in the air, he tells us, are 

 light and rapid, the pinions and tail during their flight being held fully expanded ; upon the ground 

 their gait is extremely awkward, their feet requiring assistance from the -wings, even to sustain the 

 creeping hobbling motion to which their progress when on terra firma is restricted. Whilst thus 

 attempting to walk the tail is slightly raised, and the head and neck bent forward in a constant suc- 

 cession of serpent-like movements, in order to maintain their balance. When perched they keep the 

 body erect, supporting it slightly upon the wings, and hang the head droopingly. If much excited 

 whilst in flight, the cry of the Guachero becomes positively unearthly, so dismally hideous are its 

 tones. Both parents brood alternately upon the eggs, which, according to Grosz, are white and pear- 

 shaped. No preparations whatever are made for the reception of the young family, the eggs being 

 merely deposited in the clefts of the rocks. The nestlings, when first hatched, are extremely ugly 

 and uncouth, and completely helpless until they are fully fledged ; so extraordinarily voracious are 

 they that, if other food is not on the spot, they will fall furiously upon each other, or even seize and 

 drag at their own feet or wings. 



The OWL SWALLOWS {Podargi) constitute a family bearing considerable resemblance to the 

 Night Jars, both in their general appearance and mode of life. These birds have a slender body and 

 short neck ; their head is broad and flat, their wings short and blunt, their tail long, their tarsi high 

 and powerful. The beak, which opens farther back than the eyes, is large, flat at its base, and broader 

 than the brow ; the mandibles are hooked at the tip, of equal length, and smooth at the margin ; the 

 nostrils are situated at the base of the beak, and are almost entirely concealed beneath the feathers 

 of the forehead. The foot is short, with three of the toes placed in front, and one pointing directly 

 backwards ; the latter is not reversible. The plumage is soft, and dusky in its coloration ; the 

 region of the beak, and, in some cases, that of the ear, is covered with a growth of bristles. 



Such of these birds as we are at present acquainted with, inhabit the forests of Southern Asia, as 

 also of New Holland and the neighbouring islands ; but little has as yet been ascertained respecting 

 their general habits, and we must therefore confine ourselves to the mention of those species with 

 which we are best acquainted. 



The DWARF OWL SWALLOWS (^gotheles), found exclusively in New Holland, are 

 recognisable by their long but powerful body, nearly round head, short, rounded wing (in which the 

 second quill exceeds the rest in length), long, rounded tail, and comparatively high and bare tarsi ; 

 the toes are of equal length and unconnected ; the beak is thick, broad, and compressed at its base, 



