540 PASSEEINES. 



Thej-- are migratory birds, travelling only (luring tlie night. 

 They are readily distinguished by the bristles at the base of the 

 bill, and by the claws of the middle toe, which is toothed. 

 The object of this toothed appendage has been the subject of 

 speculation. iSome writers fond of the marvellous even surmise 

 that it is intended to comb and smooth the head feathers. Mr. 

 Vigors is of opinion that it may be useful as a fuither power 

 of prehension, citing, in support of his view, the family of the 

 Ardeidce among the Wading birds, which exhibit an analogous 

 construction in the middle nail. 



Through Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia the 

 Goatsuckers are diffused, and naturalists have divided them into 

 several sub-genera, such as Podargus, represented hy Podargus 

 humeralis of the Gold River, and Podargus jaranensis, theChabba- 

 wonno of Java, and the Guacharo Bird, Steatornis villot of Hum- 

 boldt and Bonpland. 



The typical species of Caprimulgus is the Night- jak {C. euro- 

 jjcetis), Fig. 245. It is about the size of a Thrush ; and 

 Montagu states that he observed on one occasion a flock of eight 

 or ten on the wing together, in the dusk of the evening, skimming 

 over the surface of the ground, after the manner of Swallows, in 

 pursuit of insects. Its nest is of the simplest kind, for it deposits 

 its eggs on the bare ground, or upon a few dry leaves. These 

 eggs, in number only two, are hatched bj' the female in foiu'teen 

 days. 



The Common Night-jar is chiefly found on furzy commons, 

 wild bushy heaths, and broken hilly ground in the neighbourhood 

 of thickets and woods. During the daj^ it lies concealed in the 

 scrub, issuing forth in the balmj' summer evenings to pursue its 

 insect prey on the wing. 



On the prairies of North America, especially those inter- 

 sected hy sloughs, dozens of these birds may be seen at the 

 hour of sunset, their swift, powerful, and graceful flight being 

 worthy of the greatest admiration. Thej^ are there called Bull 

 Bats, and are often accused by the ignorant of the crime of sucking 

 milk from cows — about as probable as snakes being guiltv of the 

 same ofltncc ; j'et there are hundreds who believe in such im- 

 possibilities. 



