STEATORNIM. 
hiding in the hollows, or perching themselves on the branches. The eggs, which are five or six in number, are usually 
deposited on the bare wood in the hollows of trees. 
L M. crisiatus (Lath.) White’s Voy. pi. p. — Caprimulgus novse j 2. M. leucogaster Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1844, p. 106., B. of Austr. 
hollandi* Lath. ; iEgotheles australis Swains. ; JE. lunulatus Jard. I pi. 
Selby, 111, Orn. pi. 149, ; C. vittatus Lath. 
Nyctibius Vieill . * 
Bill small, weak, and depressed, with the culmen much arched and compressed, especially at the tip; 
which is hooked and obtuse ; the lateral margins curved, and armed with a strong, blunt, curved 
dentation ; that of the lower mandible much curved, dilated, and advancing over that of the upp er 
mandible; the gape extends far back, and is very wide ; the base entirely covered by the projecting 
plumes and bipectinated bristles ; the nostrils near the lateral margins, with the opening large, exposed, 
and spatuliform. Wings very long and pointed, with the second and third quills equal and longest- 
Tail very long, broad, and nearly even. Tarsi very short and plumose. Toes rather short, with the 
outer toe much longer than the inner, and all broadly padded beneath : the claws moderate, much 
curved, compressed, and acute. 
It is in South America and Africa that the species of this genus are found. They are generally seen in pairs, perched 
on the dead branches of the high trees of the forests. They usually support themselves vertically by the assistance of 
the tail, in such a manner that half of their body passes over the trunk or branch ; but, as their plumage is of the sad e 
colour, they are very difficult to be discovered while thus stationed. Sometimes they locate themselves in the hollo"' 8 
of trees during the day. It is in such places that the female deposits on the dust of the rotten wood her eggs, which 
usually consist of two. Azara mentions that they are cemented to the place by a gummy matter. 
1. N. grandis (Gmel.) Vieill. PI. enl. 325., Jard. & Selby, 111. 
Orn. pi. 89 . 
2. N. cornutus (Vieill.) Lafr. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. ii. 245., 
Azara, No. 308. 
3. N. jamaicensis (Gmel.) Lath. Syn. pi. 57. 
4. N. pectoralis Gould, Icon. Av. pi. 
5. N . cethereus (Pr. Max.) — C. longicaudatus Spix, Av. B raS ' 
ii. t. 1. 
6. N. forficatus (Vieill.) Lafr. Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. t. 47, 4S."' 
Caprimulgus furcatus Cuv. ; Type of Selochusa G. I{. Gray (1841)- 
7. N. bracteatus Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1846. p. 
* Vieillot established this genus in 1806 ( Analyse , t (c. p. 38.). In 1840 the name was changed to Nyctornis by Nitzsch. It embrace 
my Selochusa (1841). 
October, 1846. 
