. The animal creation: a popular introduction to zoology. Zoology. PASSERINE BIRDS. 423 The tribe of Nocturnal Eissirostres comprehends The Goatsuckers {Caprimulgns)* consisting of several genera, very much resembling each other in their plumage and habits. They only appear in the evening, and for this reason thev might be called crepuscular birds. The silky nature of their feathers and their mixed and mottled plumage give them, as far as relates to their colour, a strong resemblance to Owls. Their eyes are large : their beak, furnished with strong moustaches, and more deeply cleft than in Swa
. The animal creation: a popular introduction to zoology. Zoology. PASSERINE BIRDS. 423 The tribe of Nocturnal Eissirostres comprehends The Goatsuckers {Caprimulgns)* consisting of several genera, very much resembling each other in their plumage and habits. They only appear in the evening, and for this reason thev might be called crepuscular birds. The silky nature of their feathers and their mixed and mottled plumage give them, as far as relates to their colour, a strong resemblance to Owls. Their eyes are large : their beak, furnished with strong moustaches, and more deeply cleft than in Swallows, is capable of receiving the largest insects, which it retains by means of a \iscid saliva. The nostrils are in the form of small tubes, near its base. Their wings are long, their legs short. NIGHT JAK. and feathered, and the thumb can be directed forwards. These birds live solitary, and only fly during the twilight or on fine nights ; they pursue moths and other noctm-nal insects, and lay a small number of eggs on the ground, without taking mucli care to con- struct a nest. When they fly, the rushing of the air into their wide mouths produces a peculiar lumiming noise. They liave been ac- cused ot sucking goats, whence their name; but this is an un- founded calumny that, perhaps, had its origin from the circum- stance of their frequenting fields where goats and sheep are herded, in pursuit of the insects tliat are attracted by their presence. Capra, a f/oaf; mulgeo, to Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Jones, Thomas Rymer, 1810-1880. London : Society for Promoting Knowledge
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