kk 



STEATORNIN.ZE. 



Steatornis Humb.* 



Bill as long as the head, strong, elevated, and broad at the base, with the culraen much curved and 

 rounded ; the sides compressed to the tip, which is hooked and acute ; the lateral margins nearly 

 straight, and strongly dentated near the tip ; the gonys short and slightly curved ; the nostrils large, 

 with the opening oblong, placed in the middle, and pierced in the substance of the bill ; the base of the 

 upper mandible furnished with very long strong bristles, with their bases slightly pectinated. Wings 

 very long and pointed, with the third and fourth quills equal and longest. Tail long, broad, and 

 graduated. Tarsi very short, thick, and covered only with a few scattered hairs. Toes long and 

 slender, with the outer toe rather longer than the inner, and free at its base ; the hind toe short : the 

 claws long, curved, and acute. 



It is in the caverns on the sea shore of the Islands of Guadaloupe and Trinidad, as well as under the natural bridge 

 of Pandi near Bogota, that the bird which constitutes this genus is found. Its food consists of the fruits of a plant 

 called Semilla del Guacharo, which occasions the birds to become so excessively fat, that that substance is compared to 

 olive oil, and as such is permitted to be used during Lent by the Catholic natives. The noise emitted by the bird is 

 hoarse and sharp. It avoids the light of day, and only appears during the night or at least after sunset. The nest is 

 built on the surface of the rock. It is slightly hollowed out, and when fresh formed it has a margin of down, but which 

 becomes matted together with masticated matter deposited by the bill of the bird and beat up with its feet. 



S. caripensis Humb. Ann. du Mus. 1 834. t. 15. — Caprimulgus steatornis Humb. Journ. Phys. 1800. p. 



PODARGUS Cu-V.f 



Bill large and rather depressed, with the culmen much curved, and the sides suddenly compressed at 

 the tip, which is hooked and acute ; the lateral margins curved, entire, and overlapping that of the 

 lower mandible, which is suddenly curved downwards at the tip ; the gonys very short and straight ; 

 the nostrils lateral, placed in the middle of the bill, and covered by a membranous scale, with the 

 opening linear and slightly oblique; the base of the upper mandible is entirely covered by the 

 bipectinated bristles. Wings long and pointed, with the second and third quills equal and longest. Tail 

 lengthened, and more or less graduated. Tarsi robust, short, and broadly scaled. Toes long, with the 

 outer toe rather longer than the inner, and strongly scaled above ; the hind toe rather short, and all 

 .broadly padded beneath : claws moderate, compressed, curved, and acute. 



These singular birds are found in Australia and New Guinea, where they are scattered throughout, regardless whether 

 it be in the thick brushes, or in the thinly wooded plains. They also inhabit the low swampy islands, studdino- the 

 mouths of the rivers. They are generally seen in pairs, quietly seated on the dead branches during the day, or hidden 



* Established by Baron Humboldt in 1817- 



t Established by Cuvier in 1829 {Riyne Animal, i. p. 3.98.). 



