lUuslralions of Indian Ornithology. 



trees, and from thence pursuing its insect prey. It is now and then flushed from the woods 

 when beating for woodcock, or other game, and more than one have fallen beneath the gun 

 of the inexperienced sportsman, its extent of wing and lazy flapping having caused it to be 

 mistaken for the woodcock. Its flight is at times very rapid and noiseless, performed with 

 but few vibrations of its wings. When roused in the day time it flies (like others of the genus) 

 but a short distance, and then suddenly alights, and squats close to the ground, never that I 

 know perching in the day time; when hunting it often aliglits on a branch, usually sitting in 

 the direction of the branch, and not across it, its feet being not adopted for grasping firmly. 



The note of this Nightjar though somewhat like the sound of a stone scudding over 

 Ice has not such a close resemblence to it as that of the common species (C. Asiaticus); it 

 sounds some thing like Tew-yo-yo frequently repeated. Its chief food is moths and beetles. 



The name Nyctichelidon or Night Swallow was sometime ago proposed to be sub- 

 stituted for Caprimulgus, and is a very good name, expressive at once of its habits and afli- 

 nitieSjbut as the Linnoean name cannot nov? propagate any error, it has not been considered 

 necessary to change it. The Hindustani name for this genus is Chippuk; sometimes it is 

 called popularly Dub-chooree, or DuhJnih-chooree ; also Andhe-choorce, which names are 

 given from its habit of close squatting before alluded to, the one meaning squat bird, and 

 the other blind bird. Its common name in Teloogoo is ' Kuppa pitta' or Frog bird, given 

 however more from the actual resemblance of the flat head and large eyes and mouth, than as 

 in France the name 'Crapaud volant' from a similarity in the call. The best Telinga shikarees 

 however call this bird As kappri gadoo, a name, the meaning of which I have been unable 

 to ascertain. 



Mr. Blyth some time ago sent mc a specimen corresponding very closely in 

 plumage, but larger in all its proportions than my Neilgherry bird, which at first he was in- 

 clined to consider as distinct, but on re-examination, and comparison of many specimens 

 from different part of the country he now considers as identical. My own specimens 

 obtained from various localities differ much both in size and coloration, two specimens cor- 

 responding exactly being seldom met with. The male has always brighter plumage than 

 the female, and appears at times to have the plumage darker and blacker than usual, but 

 whether this is a seasonal variety, or one dependent on age I cannot now determine. 



It is extremely difficult to describe accurately birds of the present mottled and va- 

 ligated plumage, the more especially so when, as in the present instance, individual speci- 



