THE TRUE NIGHT-JARS. 
45 
THE NIGHT-JARS. SUB-ORDER CAPRIMULGI. 
These birds, familiarly known as Goat-Suckers, have much 
similarity to the Swifts as regards their structure, but differ from 
them in many points of anatomy. One great difference, how- 
ever, is seen in the character of the nestlings, which are covered 
with down. The palate is generally said to be “schizogna- 
thous,” but in Caprimulgus it seems to be legithognathous 
(see infra), and basipterygoid processes are present. In the 
character of the plumage they differ entirely from the close- 
set, hard feathering of the Swifts, and are remarkable for the 
soft and delicate nature of their body-feathers, which are like 
those of the Owls, and even resemble the latter in their zig- 
zag markings and spots. They are almost all crepuscular 
birds, coming out to seek their food in the twilight, though 
they can fly very fairly in the daytime, but do not willingly take 
flight unless disturbed. 
The Night-Jars are distributed all over the world, except in 
the extreme north and south, and they are also absent in the 
islands of the Pacific Ocean. 
There are two families, the True Night-Jars {Cafrimulgida) 
and the Moth-plumaged Night-Jars {Nyctibiida), the latter being 
only found in Tropical America. 
THE TRUE NIGHT-JARS. FAMILY 
CAPRIMULGI DzE. 
Distinguished by their pectinated middle claw, which has a 
comb-like edge. _ Only four phalanges are found in the outer 
toe. The gape is very wide, and when the mouth is opened, 
the extent is cnormou.s, and in most cases is beset with a 
number of strong, spiny bristles. 
The range of the Family extends nearly all over the globe, 
with the exceptions above stated. It contains about eighteen 
genera, some of which are beautifully decorated and carry long 
streamers in the wings and tail, or have other ornamental 
plumes during the breeding-season. 
THE TRUE NIGHT-JARS. GENUS CAPRIMULGUS. 
Caprimulgus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 346 (1766). 
Type, C. europaus (Linn.). 
In these birds the skull is legithognathous, with the vomer 
