favourably situated fox* so doing; for my own part I see no reason why a.bird should not pass a portion of its existence
in a state of hybernation as well as some species of quadrupeds, animals much higher in the scale of creation.
So great a similarity in plumage reigns throughout the first four of the species enumerated below that I have
thoxight it unnecessary to figure more than two, viz. P. humeralis and P. Cuvieri; the other two may be readily
distinguished by the descriptions I have given of them, particularly if the localities be attended to.
40. Podargus megacephalus.
Caprimulgus megacephalus, Lath. Ind. Om. Supp., p. lviii.
Great-headed Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p, 265.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. x. p. 141.—Lath.
Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 364.
Wedge-tailed Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 368?
Podargus Stanleganus, Lath. MSS., Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 197 ?
In the general colouring, form and arrangement of its markings, this species so closely resembles the P.
humeralis, that one description applies equally to b o th ; but it may be distinguished by its being somewhat larger
in the body and much larger in the head, and by the very great development of the mandibles.
I t inhabits the brushes of the east coast, and in its habits and economy resembles the other species of the
group.
41. Podargus humeralis, Vtg. fy Horsf. . . . . • • ■ • • Yol. II. PI. 3 .
42. Podargus Cuvieri, Vig. fy Horsf. . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. II.
43. Podargus brachypterus, Gould.
Podargus brachypterus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V III. p. 163.
In its general appearance this bird closely resembles the P. humeralis, but is even smaller in size than P.
Cuvieri, while at the same time the bill is larger than that of the former species, and projects much farther from
the face than in any other of its congeners ; it also differs in the shortness of its wings, which circumstance suggested
the specific appellation I have assigned to it.
I t is a native of Western Australia.
44. Podargus Phalseno’ides, Gould - . . - ■ • • • * * Vol. II. PI. 5.
45. Podargus plumiferus, Gould . . . . , . ■ > • •• . Vol. II. PI. 6.
Genus E u ro sto p o d u s, Gould.
Generic. char acters.
Bill somewhat more produced and stouter than in Caprimulgus: nostrils lateral and linear; rictus entirely
devoid of bristles, but furnished with shout, weak, divided and branching h a irs; wings longer and more powerful
than in Caprimulgus; first and second quills equal and longest; tail moderately long and nearly squar e ; tarsi
stout, and clothed anteriorly for their whole length; toes short, thick and fleshy; outer ones equal, and united to
the middle one by a membrane for more than half their length; nail of the middle toe strongly pectinated on the
inner side.
This genus, so far as is yet known, comprises but two species, both of which are natives of and confined to
Australia. They differ considerably in their habits from the true Caprimulgi. Their wing-powers being enormous,
they pass through the air with great rapidity, and while hawking for insects during the twilight of the early dawn
and evening, they make the most abrupt and sudden turns in order to secure their prey. Like the typical
Caprimulgi, they rest on the ground during the day. In every instance in which the site employed for incubation
has been discovered, a single egg only has been found ; it is deposited on the bare ground, and differs from those
of the other Caprimulgi in being much more round in form, and of a dull olive-green spotted with jet black.
The members of this genus are very nearly allied to the Lyncorni, a group of birds inhabiting the Indian Islands.
46. Eurostopodus albogularis . . . . .
47. Eurostopodus guttatus .
Fichtel's Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. vii. p. 345.
Vol. II. PI. 7.
Vol. II. PI 8
Genus C a p r im u l g u s , Linn.
Europe, Asia and Africa are the great strongholds of the members of this genus as at pi’esent restricted. A
single species, billy has yétbeen discovered in Australia, where it frequents the northern or intei'trbpical parts of
the country.
48. Caprimulgus macrxirus, Horsf. Vol. II. PI. 9.
This bird is found in Java, and I believe in Southern India.
Family HIRUNDINIDjE , Vig.
Genus A c a n t h y l i s , Boie.
A group of birds possessing enormous powers of flight, and the members of which are distributed; over the
Indian Islands and Asia; the form is also found in Africa and in America, but in those countries the species are
fewer in number : one species only has yet been discovered in Australia.
49. Acanthylis c a u d a c u t a .................................................................................................................... Vol. II. PI. 10.
A migratory bird in most pai-ts of Australia, but whence it comes or whither it goes has not yet been ascertained;
of its nidification also nothing is known.
I have alluded to the great wing-powers of the birds of the genus Acanthylis, and in confirmation of which I
may mention that an individual of this species was killed in England during the past y ear: it would be interesting
to know the route pursued by the bird in travelling so great a distance as it m ust have done.
Genus C y p s e l u s , III.
Of this genus, as of Acanthylis, there is but one species peculiar to Australia: other members of the group
inhabit the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa, but not America.
50. Cypselus Australis, Gould . Vol. II. PI. 11.
Hirundo pacifica, Lath. ?ip%
Genus Atticora, Boie.
The members of this genus are principally American.
I am not fully satisfied of the propriety of placing the bird I described in the * Proceedings of the Zoological
Society ’ as Hirundo leucosternon in the present genus : if on a further knowledge of the Australian birds it should
prove that I have been correct in so doing, the species will be found to inhabit Australia, Africa and America.
51. Atticora leucosternon, Gould ......... .................................................................................................Vol. II. PI. 12.
Since I described and figured this species I have received numerous examples from Swan River, where
Mr. Gilbert observed it on the 19th of August flying about the holes of the Boodee (Bettongia Grayit) in pairs;
but it was not until the latter end of September that he succeeded in finding their nests placed at the extremities
of holes bored in the side of a bank. All the holes that he saw wére perfectly round, not more than two inches
in diameter, running horizontally, and of the same dimensions, for three feet from the entrance, and then expanding
to the extent of four inches and forming the receptacle of the nest, which is constructed of the broad portions of
dried grasses and the dry dead leaves of the Acacia. Mr. Johnson Drummond informed him that he had frequently
found seven and even nine eggs in a single nest, from which he inferred that more than one female lays in the
same n e st: the eggs are white, somewhat lengthened, and pointed in form. I t would seem th at the holes are not
constructed exclusively for the purpose of nidification, for upon Mr. Gilbert’s inserting a long grass stalk into one
of them five birds made their way out, all of which he succeeded in catching; upon his digging to the extremity in
the hope of procuring their eggs, no nest was found, and hence he concludes that their holes are also used as
places of resort for the night.