THE LARGE-TAILED NIGHTJAE 243 



Sub-family CaprimulgincB. 

 Ten primaries and ten tail quills. 



Genus Eurostopus. 

 Gape with short inconspicuous bristles. 



The White-throated Nightjar. 



Eurostopus albigularis. 



From New Guinea to Victoria and South Australia. 



Freckled brown and grey; a large white spot on each side of the 

 throat; a patch of black on the back of the head; breast dark brown 

 spotted with dull buff and grey, abdomen and under tail-coverts redder 

 with bands of dark brown; the eyes large, dark, and lustrous, adapted to 

 restricted light. The bird possesses powers of rapid flight, and captures 

 its insect prey in the dusk while on the wing. During the day they rest 

 on the ground. Wing about 10 inches, tail 6.2. 



It lays a single egg on the ground, usually near a stone or 

 log or mound of gravel. The egg is of a cream colour, sparingly 

 spotted with blackish-brown, 1.5 inch x 1.1. 



The Spotted Nightjar. 



Eurostopus argus. 

 Australia generally, New Ireland, Aru Islands. 



Resembles preceding in form and habits. The abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts of a uniform rusty-brown. Wing under 9 inches, tail 6.4. 



Egg greenish-white or olive stone colour with a few purplish- 

 black spots, 1.38 X 1 inch. 



Genus Caprimulgus. 

 The gape armed with long stiff bristles. 



The Large-tailed Nightjar. 



Caprimulgus macrurus. 



Philippines, Malay Archipelago, Papuan Islands, North-west and 

 North Australia, Queensland to New South Wales. 



Plumage generally brown, mottled and freckled with grey, buff, 

 black and white; across the throat a band of white bounded below by 

 black; spots of white on the outer primaries; under parts deep buff; 

 breast freckled; abdomen and under tail-coverts banded. Total length 

 11.5 inches, wing 7.5, tail to 6. .3, tarsus .7, feathered in front for nearly 

 whole length. 



