POD ARGUS CU VIERI, Vig. and Horsf.
Cuvier’s Podarg’us,
Podargm Cuvieri, Vig. md Horsf. in Linn. Trans.,-^01. xr. p. 200.
More-pork of tie Colonists.
This species is readily distinguished from the Podargus humeralis by the bill being much less robust and
o f a more adpressed form, while the culmen is sharp and elevated; the bird itself is also o f a smaller size
and altogether more slender than its near ally. Van Diemen’s Land, if not its exclusive habitat, is certainly
its great stronghold, it being there very numerous, as evidenced by the frequency with which I encountered
it during my rambles in the woods; and its distribution over the island is so general, that to particularize
localities in which it may be found is quite unnecessary, it being equally abundant near the coast as well as
in the interior. I observed it both among the thick branches o f the Camarince and on the dead limbs of
the Eucalypti; it appeared however to evince a greater partiality for the latter, which it closely resembles
in colour, and from the position in which it rests, looks so like a part o f the branch itself as frequently to
elude detection; it is generally seen in pairs sitting near each other, and frequently on the same branch.
Like the other members o f the genus, this bird feeds almost exclusively on insects, of which Coleoptera
form a great part: it is strictly nocturnal in its habits, and although not so active as the true Gaprimulgi,
displays considerable alertness in the capture o f its food, presenting a striking contrast to its inertness in
the day-time, when it is so drowsy that it can scarcely be aroused from its slumbers; that portion o f its
existence being passed in a sitting posture across a dead branch, perfectly_ motionless and with the bill
pointing upwards: it never flies by day unless roused from the branch on which it is sitting, and this is not
easily effected, as neither the discharge of a gun nor any other noise will cause it to take wing. It is frequently
captured and kept in captivity, where it excites attention more from the sluggishness of its nature
and the singular position it assumes than from any other cause: raw meat forms a suitable substitute for
its natural food. In captivity it will pass the entire day in sleep on the back o f a chair or any other
piece o f furniture on which it can perch. Like the owl, it is considered by some a bird o f ill omen,
principally from the extraordinary sound of its hoarse, unearthly cry, which resembles the words more-
pork ; it not only approaches the immediate vicinity of the houses, but emits this sound while perched in
their verandahs and on the buildings themselves ; and it is often to be seen perched on the tombstones of
the churchyard.
It builds a somewhat neatly-formed flat nest, about seven inches in diameter, in the fork o f an horizontal
branch • the exterior formed of small sticks, and the interior of the fibrous portions of various plants ; the
eggs are white, and nearly of a true oval in form, being one inch and nine lines long by one inch and
three lines broad.
Considerable variation occurs in the colouring o f individuals, the prevailing tint being a dull ashy grey,
while others are of a rich chestnut hue ; but whether this be indicative o f immaturity, or characteristic of
the fully adult plumage, I have not been able to satisfy myself. The figures represent both these styles of
colouring.
Lores brown, each feather tipped with mealy white, forming a line before and above the e y e ; feathers of
the forehead mealy white, blending into the dull ashy grey o f the head and back, all the feathers o f which
have a stripe o f blackish brown down the centre, terminating in a small spot of white, and are moreover
minutely freckled with greyish white and dark brown ; wing-coverts chestnut, each tipped with an oval spot
o f white bounded posteriorly with black, forming a line across the wing ; remainder o f the wing brown,
mottled with greyish white, arranged, particularly on the primaries, in the form o f irregular bars; scapularies
washed with buff and with a broad stripe o f blackish brown down the centre; under surface brownish grey,
minutely freckled with white, and with a narrow line of blackish brown down the centre; sides o f the neck
washed with chestnut; tail grey, minutely freckled with greyish white and black, assuming the form of broad
irregular bands, each feather with a small spot of white at the tip ; irides varying from yellow to reddish
yellow and hazel; feet olive-brown.
Other examples have the general tint rich chestnut-brown, with all the markings larger and more
decided.
The figures are o f the natural size.