It has several points of resemblance with the owls, particularly the stooping position, and the 

 power of turning the head in any direction, even over the back. 



It breeds at various times from September to January, no nest being built, but four or five 

 white eggs being laid in the hollow branch of a tree. In length the eggs are one inch and one line, 

 and in breadth eleven lines. 



The head is brown, with three crescentic marks of greyish-white on the side ; upper surface 

 and wings, brownish-grey, each feather with a spot of black near the tip ; under surface, light buff, 

 barred with short, narrow lines of brown ; irides, brown ; bill, black ; legs and feet, brownish-yellow. 



Habitats: Queensland, Xew South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western 



A aei falia. 



GENUS CAPRIMULGUS (Linnceus). 



/~\XLY one member of this genus inhabits Australia. Others are found in the different parts of 

 * ' Europe, Asia, and Africa. 



CAPEIMULGUS MACKURUS (Horsfidd). 



LARGE- TA I LED NIGHTJAR. 



TI^HIS, the only species of true Nightjar obtained in Australia, inhabits the north coast, and is 

 J- also found in Southern India and Java, 



During the day it sleeps under the shade of a large tree in an open forest, but at night 

 displays great activity. 



Insects of various kinds constitute its sole food. 



During the breeding season a single egg is laid on the bare ground, no nest of any kind 

 being constructed. 



The head is brownish-grey, the feathers down the centre, brown, with a spot of black on 

 each ; ear-coverts, brown ; a narrow line below the angle of the mouth, and a line across the chest, 

 white; back, brown, freckled with black and buff; wing-coverts, freckled grey, brown, and black; 

 primaries and secondaries, blackish-brown, crossed near the base by buff, the second and third primaries 

 crossed near the base by a broad band of white ; scapularies, greyish-white, freckled with brown , tail- 

 feathers, reddish-brown, freckled with dark brown, the two outer feathers on each side, largely tipped 

 with white ; under surface, buffy-brown, barred with narrow lines of dark brown ; irides, dark brown ; 

 bill, black ; legs and feet, light brown. 



Habitat : North coast of Australia. 



