Crder IJ. p> 
Tribe I. Fissirostres nocturne. 
Family I. Caprimulgid.ze. 
asseres. 
^ le sec °nd Subfamily, 
CAPRIMULGIN/E, or Goatsuckers, 
'^itli 6 &dlort an< i weak, with the gape extending under each eye, extremely broad, and furnished 
l en 01 c or less lengthened bristles; the Wings long, and usually pointed; the Tail more or less 
clothed C< ^ an ^ IOun( -t or graduated, and sometimes forked; the Tarsi more or less short, and almost 
later- 1 lrou ghout with short plumes, or entirely denuded and scaled; the Toes moderate, with the 
| K , ci j ^ ^ 0S Aiorter than the middle toe, and of equal length : the Claws of the middle toe large, and 
011 H le sides ; those of the other toes small. 
Caprimulgus Linn.* 
bristlo. ^ w ‘tb the gape extending under the eyes, very wide, and furnished with long strong 
th e ri ' cu lmen curved, and the sides much compressed to the tip, which is hooked and emarginated , 
wjtp ^ ' S ^‘ era t tubular, with the opening large, and partly exposed . Wings very long, and pointed; 
^ SGCOnd d u ill the longest. Tail rather long, broad, and more or less rounded ; or very long, and 
Toes sj f ° rke<3 ' Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, strong, and more or less clothed with plumes. 
ar tno q ’ w ith the lateral toes short and equal ; the hind toe very short ; the middle toe lon & , and 
h a broad serrated claw. 
The 
' V °°E or on+i ° f this genus are scattered in various parts of the world. They are migratory, and generally live in the 
°'er q lc ^ Ay tracts of pasture land ; but sometimes they are observed skimming round pools of stagnant watei, anc 
° r early ; n A**® ° f r | ver s- They feed on moths and beetles, which they catch on the wing in the dusk of the evening 
h'e mom}, ig *°rning, retiring to some dark recess among the brushwood during the day. During their rapid ig it 
* llcr ease the - ^ ex ^ en ded and of enormous gape; besides which it is surrounded with long rigid bristles, seivin 0 to 
c 8gs in a ( j r ^ paee > and greatly to assist in the capture of their prey. They form no nest, but geneially deposit two 
y P°t beneath the shelter of ferns and other plants. 
h C. 
de ! Ifr ■ 
eur opceu>. 
7 ~ • C. Vu i„ a J . L ‘ nn - P1 - enl. 193. 
* 0 ‘ S - Afr. Birds' 8 G ° U ' d ’ B ' ofEur - P 1 - 51 ., Smith, 111. 
■ Caprimulgus punctatus 
M 
T *" m 
liol L C \^m« S S ID - ZooL S - Afr. Birds, pi. 
U PP- Paun. AVivoq „ me r 
an. d’Ornith. p. 438. — Caprimulgus 
'>hal Us 
5 
^if^' 8 A UebT " :vo '' a3 
Abyss, p. 105. — Caprimulgus 
gus po- 
\H P1) s ttupp - Faun. Abyss, p. 106. — Caprimulgus 
' Uebers. Vog. t. 4. 
and Jr, , abl ‘shed by 1 • 
yd, '°Psalia ofw'T US in 17 56. 
01 Wagler ( 1832). 
6. C. infuscatus Rupp. Zool. Atlas, t. 6. -Caprimulgus nubicus 
Licht. , 
7. C. isabellinus Temm. PL col. 379- - Caprimulgus sgyptms 
Licht. 
8. C. eximius Riipp. PL c °t ®98- 
9. C. lentiginosus Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. Birds pi. 
10. C. natalensis Smith, 111. Zool. Aft. Birds, p . 
11. C. jotaka Temm. & Schl. Faun. Japon. Ois. t 18, IS. 
12. C. asiaticus Gmel. - Caprimulgus pectorabs Vieill. Levail . 
Ois. d’Afr. t. 49- 
It embraces Antrostomus of Mr. Gould (1838). 
Nyctichelidon of Rennie (1831) is synonymous. 
