58 



ZOOLOGY. 



2. Swifts (Gypselus), with forked tails and four 

 strong, curved, forwardly directed claws. Only one 

 British species belongs here— the Swift {Gypselus 

 apus), ten inches long, brownish black except for 

 white throat, and with very long curved wings. 



3. Night-jars {Caprimulgus), with tail not forked, 

 soft plumage, large head and eyes ; jfiy at night. One 

 species belongs here— the Goatsucker {Caprimulgus 

 ev/ropceus. Fig. 35), twelve inches long, grey on the 

 upper side, spotted with blackish brown and rusty 



Fig. 35. — The Goatsucker ^Caprimulgus europ(Eus). , 



yellow, yellowish whitey-grey with dark wavy lines 

 on the under side. In the day it flies awkwardly 

 and heavily, and usually keeps under cover ; by night 

 it flies rapidly and boldly, especially in bare spots in 

 woods, or in gardens and on fields. It haunts 

 especially the neighbourhood of sheepfolds and cattle 

 in the meadows, since it always finds flies and gnats 

 there. It also catches cockchafers and various moths. 



Group: Magnirostres {Large-heaJced Perching Birds). 



Beak strong, thick, often incurved near its apex. 

 These birds eat almost all kinds of food, both animal 



