DENTIROSTRES. 513 



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 by the female in fourteen 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 day it lies concealed in the scrub, 

 issuing forth in the balmy, summer evenings to pursue its insect prey 

 on the wing. 



On the prairies of North America, especially those intersected by 

 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. They 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 guilty of the same offence ; yet there' are 

 hundreds who believe in such impossibilities. 



The Night-jar is a bird of evil omen in the estimation of our 

 rural population; such it has been considered since the days of 

 Aristotle, and possibly even further back. The reverse should be 

 the case, for the benefit it confers by clearing the air of noxious 

 insects is incalculable. 



The Guacharos (Steaiorms caripensis) are singular birds, with more 

 of the Hawk than Goatsucker in their appearance. They were first 

 described by MM. Humboldt and Bonpland as being found in the 

 interior of a vast Columbian cavern — the Grotto of Caripe. Their 

 hooked bill and general aspect are more robust than the Night-jars. 

 They inhabit in thousands the deep recesses of the caverns of the 

 Cumana Chain, hanging to the walls by their pointed claws. In these 

 caves, which they only leave during the night, they build their nests. 

 Unlike their congeners, they feed only on grain and seeds. The 

 Indians of Caripe enter these sombre domains from time to time, and 

 make raids upon their ranks, for they are deservedly esteemed as 

 great delicacies. 



Dentirostres. 



The Passerine Dentirostres are characterised by a bill more or 

 less strong, compressed on each side of the point. They feed on 

 berries and insects, and comprehend numerous genera, including the 

 Manakins, Cock of the Rock, Warblers, Lyres, Orioles, Honey-eaters, 

 Dippers, Thrushes, Tanagers, the Rollers, Chatterers, Fly-catchers, 

 and Butcher Birds. 



M. Lesson thinks the Mnscicapidce should consist of the genera 



H H 



