

STEATORNIM. 



hiding in the hollows, or perching themselves on the branches. The eggs, which are five or six in number, are usually 

 deposited on the bare wood in the hollows of trees. 



1. M. cristatus (Lath.) White's Voy. pi. p. — Caprimulgus novse I 2. M. leucogaster Gould, Proc. Z. S, 1844, p. 106., B. of Austr. 

 hollandiffi Lath. ; iEgotheles australis Swains. ; M. lunulatus Jard. pi. 

 <§- Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 149. ; C. vittatus Lath. 



Nyctibius Vieill.* 



Bill small, weak, and depressed, with the culmen much arched and compressed, especially at the tip, 

 which is hooked and obtuse ; the lateral margins curved, and armed with a strong, blunt, curved 

 dentation ; that of the lower mandible much curved, dilated, and advancing over that of the upper 

 mandible ; the gape extends far back, and is very wide ; the base entirely covered by the projecting 

 plumes and bipectinated bristles ; the nostrils near the lateral margins, with the opening large, exposed, 

 and spatuliform. Wings very long and pointed, with the second and third quills equal and longest. 

 Tail very long, broad, and nearly even. Tarsi very short and plumose. Toes rather short, with the 

 outer toe much longer than the inner, and all broadly padded beneath : the claws moderate, much 

 curved, compressed, and acute. 



It is in South America and Africa that the species of this genus are found. They are generally seen in pairs, perched 

 on the dead branches of the high trees of the forests. They usually support themselves vertically by the assistance of 

 the tail, in such a manner that half of their body passes over the trunk or branch ; but, as their plumage is of the same 

 colour, they are very difficult to be discovered while thus stationed. Sometimes they locate themselves in the hollows 

 of trees during the day. It is in such places that the female deposits on the dust of the rotten wood her eggs, which 

 usually consist of two. Azara mentions that they are cemented to the place by a gummy matter. 



1. N.grandis (Gmel.) Vieill. PL enl. 325., Jard. & Selby, 111. 

 Orn. pi. 89. 



2. N. comutus (Vieill.) Lafr. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. ii. 245., 

 Azara, No. 308. 



3. N. jamaicensis (Gmel.) Lath. Syn. pi. 57- 



4. N. pectoralis Gould, Icon. Av. pi. 



5. N. cethereus (Pr. Max.) — C. longicaudatus Spine, Av. Bras, 

 ii.t. 1. 



6. N. forficatus (Vieill.) Lafr. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 47, 48.— 

 Caprimulgus furcatus Cuv. ; Type of Selochusa G. R. Gray (1841). 



7. N. bracteatus Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1846. p. 



* Vieillot established this genus in 18p6 {Analyse, <Sf<\ p. 38.). In 1840 the name was changed to Nyctornis by Nitzsch. It embraces 

 my Selochusa (1841). 



October, 184-6. 



