254 GOATSUCKER. 



crown and nape, but the spots larger ; quills black, mottled and 

 barred with tawny ; the outer one three quarters of an inch shorter 

 than the second ; the third a trifle shorter than the second ; vent pale 

 tawny, with three or four undulated lines on each feather; chin, to 

 the breast, dull tawny, transversely undulated with dusky; just 

 above, and on the breast, mixed with blotches of tawny ; all the 

 belly dull pale tawny, minutely barred with dusky; tail six inches 

 long, much rounded, the outer feather nearly three quarters of an 

 inch shorter; the four middle ones tawny, mottled with black, and 

 marked with nine or ten oblique bars on each side of the shaft, but 

 not reaching the outer web ; the two outer feathers but one mostly 

 white, but the outer web, and round the end tawny, with five large 

 spots of black, from the base to half way ; the second the same, but 

 the outer web, next the shaft, white, spotted black at the base; the 

 third much the same, but much more marked with black ; the wings 

 reach three-fourths on the tail ; middle toe serrated. The female 

 differs, in having all the tail feathers uniform in colour. 



The above taken from specimens sent from Georgia, by Mr. 

 Abbot; but we have reason to think, that individuals vary somewhat 

 in colour : the male is said to have a white spot on each tail feather, 

 except the two middle ones, forming an incomplete band when 

 spread ; and some have a white band under the throat, and several 

 spots of white on the pinions of the wings; and such are supposed 

 to be old birds. 



Inhabits Virginia and Carolina ; appears only in the evening, or 

 when the sky, obscured with clouds, betokens rain ; hence the name 

 ov Rain Bird : called, in Georgia, the Great Bat ; arrives the middle 

 of April, lays two eggs on the ground ; these are bluish white, very 

 thickly marked all over with irregular spots of brown, so as almost 

 to obscure the ground colour. By the hunters it is said, that the 

 wild deer feed when the Goatsuckers fly : it is observed, that not only 

 this, but some others, very frequently settle lengthways on the limb 

 of a tree, rather than across, though this is not constant ; it is known 



