Family CAPEIMULGID^. 



Genus CAPRIMULGUS. 



Caprimulgus, Brisson, Orn. ii. p. 470 (1760). 



Hirundo apud Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 542 (1811). 



Nycticlielidon apud Rennie in Mont. Orn. Diet. 2nd ed. p. 335 (1831). 



The Goatsuckers are certainly more closely allied to the Swifts than any other group ; and I have 

 therefore decided to place these two families in an order by themselves. Members of the family 

 are found nearly all over the world ; and the genus Caprimulgus inhabits the Paleearctic, Ethiopian, 

 Oriental, and Australian Regions, three species being found in the Western Palsearctic Region. 



These birds are peculiar in being nocturnal in their habits, but seldom flying about during 

 the daytime, when they hide away in some well-sheltered place, which, as soon as the shades of 

 evening set in, they leave and commence searching after their insect food. They feed entirely 

 on nocturnal insects of various kinds, which they usually capture on the wing. Their flight is 

 light, rapid, and noiseless. They are migrants, leaving for warmer climes early in the autumn. 

 Their note is peculiar, being whirring, resembling the sound of a spinning-wheel ; and they also 

 utter a shrill whistle. They deposit their eggs, two in number, on the ground, making no regular 

 nest. The eggs are elongated, dull white in colour, clouded with purplish grey and brown. 



Caprimulgus europwus, the type of the genus, has the bill very short, feeble, much depressed, 

 broad at the base, the tip narrow and deflected ; nostrils elliptical ; mouth extremely wide, the 

 gape furnished with stiff bristles ; wings very long, the second quill longest ; tail long, slightly 

 rounded ; feet small, tarsus partially feathered ; anterior toes webbed at the base, the centre one 

 much the longest ; claws small, curved, compressed, that of the middle toe proportionally longer, 

 curved outwards, and pectinate on the thin inner edge ; plumage very soft and blended. 



8^ 



