320 ZOOLOGY. 
great dexterity on the wing in the dusk of the evening. They usually 
spend the day like the owls in the darkest recesses of the forest. Incuba- 
tion is generally performed upon the ground; no nest is constructed, but 
a dry, sheltered spot only selected, wherein two eggs only are deposited. 
There is but one well established European species, which is the Capri- 
mulgus europeus, and even it is not very common. It partakes exclusively 
of the general habits of its sub-family. aie 
The species best known in North America is the Whip-poor-will, sa 
called from its very remarkable note. ‘These notes,” says Wilson, “seem 
pretty plainly to articulate the words which have been generally applied 
to them, whip-poor-will, the first and last syllables being uttered with great 
emphasis, and the whole in about a second to each repetition ; but when two. 
or more males meet, their whip-poor-will altercations become much more 
rapid and incessant, as if each were striving to overpower or silence the 
other. When near, you often hear an introductory click between the notes. 
Towards midnight they generally become silent, unless in clear moonlight, 
when they are heard with little intermission till morning.” A much larger 
species, the Chuck-wills-widow, so called also from its note, inhabits the 
southern part of the United States. 
Many species of this sub-family are found in all parts of the world. 
The common European species, C. europeus (pl. 1038, fig. 6), resembles. 
to some extent, in general appearance and habits, the whip-poor-will, though 
it is almost without voice. 
Sub-fam. 2. Podargine, or Large Night Hawks. Bill short, curved at 
the point, very strong, gape enormous; base of the bill with projecting 
plumes, but without bristles. Tarsi and feet short, and comparatively 
weak ; tail rather long. Wings moderate. Size large. 
These extraordinary birds are the largest of this family, many of the 
species being as large as the common crow. On account of the unusual 
broadness of their heads, and consequent wideness of their mouths and 
throats, they present a very grotesque and singular appearance. 
The genus Podargus, which embraces the greater number of the species, 
is confined to Australia and some other of the most southerly islands of the 
Pacific ocean. In Australia the largest species (P. cinereus) lives in thick 
woods, venturing out on the wing only in the evening. It lives upon 
winged insects, and has been named by the colonists, in imitation of its 
note, “More pork.” Another genus (Batrachostomus) is found in the 
interior of India. 
In America the singular genus Steatornis is found. It contains one 
species only, which was discovered in caverns in South America by the 
celebrated Humboldt, and is remarkable for possessing a strongly hooked 
bill and other rapacious characters, showing a close affinity to the owls. 
It is said, however, to subsist upon fruits, and that it is eaten by the 
natives. Another American genus is Nyctibius, which contains several 
large species inhabiting South America, of which may be mentioned the 
N. grandis, a species as large as a hen. 
Sub-fam. 8. Podagerine. Bill much depressed, with the culmen curved 
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