xxviii 
INTRODUCTION. 
favourably situated for so doing ; for my own part I see no reason Avhy a bird should not pass a portion of its exist- 
ence in a state of hybernation as well as some species of quadrupeds, animals much higher in the scale of creation. 
So great a similarity in plumage reigns throughout the first four of the species enumerated below that I have 
thought it unnecessary to figure more than two, viz. P. htmieralis and P. Cuvieri ; the other tAvo may be readily 
distinguished by the descriptions I have given of them, particularly if the locahties be attended to. 
40. Podargus megacephalus. 
Caprimulgus megacephalus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. Iviii. 
Great-headed Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 265. — Shaw, Gen. ZooL, vol. x. p. 141. — Lath. 
Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 364. 
Wedge-tailed Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 368? 
Podargus Stanley a^ius, Lath. MSS., Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 1.97 ? 
In the general colouring, form and arrangement of its markings, this species so closely resembles the P. 
humeralis, that one descriptioii applies equally to both ; but it may be distinguished by its being somewhat larger 
in the body and much larger in the head, and by the very great development of the mandibles. 
It inhabits the brushes of the east coast, and in its habits and economy resembles the other species of the 
group. 
41. Podargus humeralis, Vig. 8f Horsf. . . . . ./ . ... . . Vol. II. PI. 3. 
42. Podargus Cuvieri, Vig. ^ Horsf. ........... Vol. II. PI. 4. 
43. Podargus brachypterus, Gould. 
Podargus brachypterus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, Part VIII. p. 163. 
In its general appearance this bird closely resembles the P. humeralis, but is even smaller in size than P. 
Cuvieri, while at the same time the bill is larger than that of the former species, and projects much farther from 
the face than in any other of its congeners ; it also differs in the shortness of its wings, which circumstance sug- 
gested the specific appellation I have assigned to it. 
It is a native of Western Australia. 
44. Podargus Phalfenoides, Gould . . .. . .... . . . Vol. II. PI. 5. 
45. Podargus plumiferus, Gould > . ....... ... Vol. II. PL 6. 
Genus Eurostopodus, Gould. 
Generic characters. 
Bill somewhat more produced' and stouter than in Caprimulgus : nostrils lateral and linear ; rictus entirely 
devoid of bristles, but furnished with short, weak, divided and branching hairs ; wings longer and more powerful 
than in Caprimulgus ; first and second quills equal and longest ; tail moderately long and nearly square ; tarsi 
stout, and clothed anteriorly for their whole length ; toes short, thick and fleshy ; outer ones equal, and united to 
the middle one by a membrane for more than half their length ; nail of the middle toe strongly pectinated on the 
inner side. 
This genus, so far as is yet known, comprises but two species, both of which are natives of and confined to 
Australia. They differ considerably in their habits from the true Caprimulgi. Their wing-powers being enormous, 
they pass through the air with great rapidity, and while hawking for insects during the twilight of the early dawn 
and evening, they make the most abrupt and sudden turns in order to secure their prey. Like the typical 
Caprimulgi, they rest on the ground during the day. In every instance in which the site employed for incubation 
has been discovered, a single egg only has been found ; it is deposited on the bare ground, and differs from those 
of the other Caprimulgi in being much more round in form, and of a dull olive-green spotted with jet black. 
The members of this genus are very nearly allied to the Lyncorni, a group of birds inhabiting the Indian Islands. 
46. Eurostopodus albogularis ........... . . . Vol. 11. PI. 7. 
47. Eurostopodus guttatus ............... Vol. II. PI 8 
FichteTs Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. ^. 345. 
