NYCTIBIUS GRANDIS. 



in another Number, according to these gentlemen differs in the wings 

 losing the superior powers of flight displayed in the other genera, which, 

 instead of being long and acuminated, are short and rounded. The bill and 

 legs assume somewhat of the length and strength usually attached to these 

 parts, while, as the latter members regain their general powers, the serra- 

 ture of the middle claw, which accompanied the weaker conformation, en- 

 tirely disappears. The rictal bristles also partially lose their strength and 

 regularity of disposition, and here, as in Podargus, seems to be transferred 

 to the front or base of the bill. 



All these genera are very closely allied in their forms and habits. They 

 all frequent woods, or waste and unenclosed districts on their borders, feed- 

 ing, as far as we know, entirely on insects, for which their whole structure 

 seems admirably fitted. They are, with one exception (Caprimulgus diur- 

 nus of Temminck), all nocturnal, or rather come from their day's retreat to 

 feed and perform their other duties in the dark or twilight, or early in the 

 morning, flitting lightly about, sporting as it were by starts, most likely as 

 they are attracted by some favourite prey, and uttering at intervals notes 

 peculiar through the group for their wildness and singularity. They are 

 generally solitary. They breed on the ground, in decayed hollow trees or 

 in caves. In geographical distribution, the last form has been only found 

 in New Holland. Nyctibius has been found in South America and her 

 islands ; Podargus in Africa, India, and New Holland ; while Caprimulgus 

 has a range in every quarter of the globe. 



Nyctibius grandis is, we believe, the largest among the Caprimulgidce 

 worthy of its name, and a truly magnificent species. The length is above two 

 feet, the ground colour of the plumage is a chalky white, beautifully varie- 

 gated with spots and waves and bars of black, chesnut, ochraceous and grey. 

 On the shoulders, the chesnut colour prevails, and is nearly uniform in its 

 tint ; on the lower parts pale ochraceous predominates, and the markings of 

 black take the form of bars ; on the throat and upper part of the breast, 

 the stems and tips of the feathers are produced in long fine filaments, 

 which cause these parts to appear as if the plumage was mixed with hairs ; 

 the quills are very long, reaching to within two inches of the extremity of 

 the tail, nearly black, the outer webs with pale grey markings at regular 

 intervals, the inner webs with opposite bars of a darker shade, mottled again 

 with the ground colour of the quill ; the tail is broad and powerful, the 

 ground colour white, with an ochraceous tinge at the base, the whole 

 thickly waved with brownish-black, so distributed as to form alternate 

 bands of a paler and darker shade, the colour also alternately running 

 through the shaft of the feather. 



