^80 TaSSEKHS. HI liDS. C YPSELID.lt. 
which is one of the commonest Australian species, is 
preceding species, but its nest is said to be more neatly 
about seventeen inches in lengtli, including the rather 
formed. 
long tail ; it is of a greyish-brown colour, mottled and 
Of the remaining species of this genus we need only 
spotted with brown, and the wing coverts are spotted 
mention the Moth-like Pod.xrgus [Podargus pha- 
with white and tawny, the spots forming irregular 
Iceuoides), a small species found at Port Essington, and 
bands across the wings when these are closed. The 
in other parts of North Australia ; and the Plumed 
liristly feathers above the base of the bill are more or 
Podargus (P. plumiferus), which is remarkable for 
less plumose. 
a large tuft of light feathers springing from above the 
This bird is found abundantly in New South Wales, 
base of the bill. The latter is rather a large species. 
and also in Van Diemen’s Land, where it dwells 
measuring eighteen inches in length, including a long 
amongst the trees, sleeping during the day upon a 
tail slightly forked at the tip ; it is found in New South 
branch in so lethargic a condition that it is almost 
Wales. The New Guinea Podargus is called P. 
impossible to arouse it ; it may then be taken by the 
papuensis ; it is a large species. 
hand, or knocked down with a stick or stone, and Mr. 
HORSFIELD’S GOATSUCKER [Batrachostomus ja- 
Gould says that he has even shot one without disturb- 
vensis). The islands of the Eastern Archipelago are 
ing its mate sitting by it. At night, however, it 
inhabited by several species of this family, nearly allied 
becomes active and animated, but its powers of flight 
to the Podargi, but possessing a still more strongly 
seem to be inferior to those of the goatsuckers in 
developed bill. The Javanese species, known as Hors- 
general, and from the nature of its food, which consists 
field’s Goatsucker, inhabits the recesses of large forests. 
to a great extent of insects which do not move at night. 
but nothing is known of its habits. In another species. 
such as Ci'.adcE and Phasmidcc, we may judge that it 
the Great Eared-Goatsucker [B. auritus), the 
finds much of its sustenance by creeping about the 
face is ornamented with a' pair of large tufts of light 
stems and branches of trees, in the crevices of the bark 
feathers, projecting horizontally, and giving the bird a 
of which these insects conceal themselves at night. 
very singular and grotesque appearance. 
This view is borne out by the subscansorial character 
of the feet, and the worn state in which the feathers 
Family IL— CYPSELIDAE. 
of the tail are usually found. The stomach, according 
to Mr. Gould, is “ lined with a thick hair-like substance. 
The birds forming the family of the CypscUdm, or 
like that of the common cuckoo,” and as the latter is 
Swifts, are' very commonly placed in the same family 
known to consist of tlie hairs of caterpillars, we may 
as the Swallows, which they closely resemble in most 
infer that these insects form a portion of tlie food of 
of their external characters. They have a very short. 
this Podargus. During the winter season it feeds upon 
weak, and depressed bill, with the gape opening back 
beetles and, when other resources fail, also upon small 
as far as the hinder margin of the eyes, and entirely 
terrestrial Mollusca. According to M. Verreaux, in 
destitute of bristles. The nostrils are of very large 
the breeding season their tastes become carnivorous; 
size, situated on the upper surface of the base of the 
they devour small birds, which they seize upon the 
bill, and surrounded by raised margins. Their feet are 
nest. M. Verreaux says that when, the birds are 
very short and weak ; and in the typical species, 
I'ather large, he has seen the Podargus take his prey to 
forming the genus Cypselus, 
a large branch, seize it by the head, and beat it right 
all the four toes are directed 
and left against the branch so as to break its bones. 
forwards. This arrangement ^ 
when he swallows it whole, commencing with the head. 
of the toes adapts the feet / / 
The cry of this species is a loud hoarse note, which. 
admirably for clinging to walls, Jf ji 
Jlr. Gould says, cannot be accurately described. Dur- 
rocks, and similar objects, about j 
ing the pairing time the male uses a note which, as 
which the Swifts commonly 
described by M. Verreaux, resembles the cooing of a 
take up their abode ; but the i 
do\'e more than the cry of a night bird, and which 
weakness of their hinder limbs 
appears to have a great attraction for the female. The 
renders them all exceedingly ^ 
males also fight fiercely at this season. The eggs. 
helpless on the ground, to > \ 
which are usually two or three, of a pure white colour. 
which indeed they rarely de- Foot of Swift. 
are deposited in September, in a flat nest composed of 
scend of their own accord. 
small twigs, and placed on the fork of a horizontal 
When driven to the earth by any accident, they 
branch, at about five or six feet from the ground. 
remain crouching where they fall, or creep along 
CUVIER’S PODARGUS [Podargus Cuvieri) is a rather 
lamely until they can reach some slightly elevated 
smaller species than the preceding, measuring only 
object on which thet' can climb, and thus obtain 
fifteen or sixteen inches in length ; it is also destitute 
a point of vantage from which to start into the 
of the large tawny spots on the shoulders, and the 
air. In the last-mentioned element, however, their 
hristles over the base of the bill have only a few dis- 
means of locomotion are perfect ; in fact, they pro- 
tant barbs upon them. This species, although met 
bably exceed all other birds in power of flight. Their 
with on the continent of Australia, is more especially 
wings are excessively long and pointed, and moved by 
an inhabitant of Van Diemen’s Land, where it is known 
strong muscles attached to an enormously-developed 
to the colonists as the More Pork Bird, its curious cry 
sternal keel; and by the rapid vibration of these 
being considered to bear a close resemblance to the 
vigorous pinions, the little birds are enabled to perform 
words “ more pork.” In its habits it resembles the 
the most astonishing aerial evolutions. Nearly their 
