9S 
THE PLUMED PODARGUS. 
bird however, is so quiet, and its sombre color harmonizes so well with the bark of the branch 
to which it clings, that even by day it needs a quick and practised eye to discern its form. 
These birds almost invariably sit close together in pairs, and they are so incorrigibly 
drowsy, that if one of the pair be shot, its mate will not be disturbed even by the report of 
the gun or the fall of its companion, but sit quietly in its place, and may either be knocked 
down with a stick, shot with a second charge, or taken by hand, as is most convenient. If 
pushed off the branch by a long rod, the Podargus can barely summon sufficient energy to 
save itself from falling to the ground, and flapping its wings languidly to the nearest bough, 
settles, and is almost immediately wrapped in sleep, thus practically carrying out the com- 
plaint of Dr. Watts’ sluggard, “You have waked me too soon, I must slumber again.” 
Sometimes, however, it is known to fly by day without being thus violently disturbed, but 
such instances of diurnal liveliness are extremely rare, and may be considered exceptional. 
As soon, however, as the daylight fades out of the sky, the Podargus awakes from its 
stupor, and after a few shakings and plumings of feathers, becomes a most lively and ani- 
NEW HOLLAND GOAT-SUCKER . — ^Egotheles novce-hollandice. (See page 96.) 
mated bird, quick, light, and active in all its movements, and scarcely to be recognized as the 
same being which but a few hours ago seemed hardly able to move a head or limb without 
difficulty. At the earliest approach of nightfall the Tawny-shouldered Podargus sets off 
on its travels in search of food, and chases the insects on which it feeds with great agility and 
perseverance. 
A much smaller but very beautiful example of the Podargi is the Moth Plumed Podar- 
gus ( Podargus phalamo'ides), so called on account of the exquisitely soft tinting of its feathers, 
which bear a very close resemblance to the velvet plumage of the large moths. The moth-like 
hues are most perceptible upon the wing-coverts, which are thickly sown with markings that 
closely resemble the ‘ £ eyes ’ ’ found upon the wings of so many large moths, and that add so 
much to their beauty. These “eyes” are very like those which decorate the wings of the 
well-known Emperor moth, but are devoid of the brilliant colors of that insect, and are com- 
posed of different shades of gray and brown. 
Lastly, the Plumed Podargus deserves notice on account of the singular development 
of the feathers of the nostrils, which rise to a considerable height, and are richly spotted with 
black, brown, and white, forming a kind of plume over the forehead. It is a large and hand- 
