GROUND-FREQUENTING BIRDS 
49 
the “caws” being loud and the “gobbles” gradually diminishing in volume. 
Its food is similar to that of other Nightjars. 
Nest. — None, the egg is deposited on the bare ground. 
Egg. — Yellowish-olive, sparingly spotted and blotched with reddish- 
purple or roundish lavender markings. Breeding-season : September to 
December. 
23. Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus Horsfield 
Cap-ri-mulg -us — L., caper , goat ; L., mulgere, to suck : mac-rur-us — Gk, 
macros , long; Gk, ura ( oura ), tail. 
Distribution. — Northern Territory and northern Queensland. 
Notes. — Usually singly, at rest during the day on the ground or on a 
log. Inhabits forest country near the coast, and the pockets on the moun- 
tains ; it has a strange call like “Chop, chop,” resembling the cutting down 
of a tree heard at a distance. Food : insects of various kinds, chiefly 
moths. 
Nest. — None, the eggs are deposited on the bare ground. 
Eggs. — Two, pinkish-stone or a faint reddish-cream, with indistinct 
spots, blotches, and clouded markings of purplish-brown and slate-grey. 
Breeding-season: September to October. 
