. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. THE PLUMED POD ARGUS. 95 bird however, is so quiet, and its sombre color harmonizes so well with the bark of the branch to which it clings, that even by day it needs a quick and j^ractised eye to discern its fonn. These birds almost invariably sit close together in pairs, and they are so incorrigibly drowsy, that if one of the pair be shot, its mate will not be disturbed even by the report of the gun or the fall of its companion, but sit quietly in its place, and may either be knocked do
. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. THE PLUMED POD ARGUS. 95 bird however, is so quiet, and its sombre color harmonizes so well with the bark of the branch to which it clings, that even by day it needs a quick and j^ractised eye to discern its fonn. These birds almost invariably sit close together in pairs, and they are so incorrigibly drowsy, that if one of the pair be shot, its mate will not be disturbed even by the report of the gun or the fall of its companion, but sit quietly in its place, and may either be knocked down with a stick, shot with a second charge, or taken by hand, as is most convenient. If pushed off the branch by a long rod, the Podargus can barely summon sufficient energy to save itself from falling to the ground, and flapj)ing its wings languidly to the nearest bough, settles, and is almost immediately wrapped in sleep, thus practically carrying out the com- plaint of Dr. Watts' sluggard, "You have waked me too soon, I must slumber ;' Sometimes, however, it is known to fly by day without being thus violently disturbed, but such instances of diui'ual liveliness are extremely rare, and may be considered exceptional. As soon, however, as the daylight fades out of the sky, the Podargus awakes from its stupor, and after a few shaldngs and plumings of feathers, becomes a most lively and. ani-. NBW HOLLAND GOAT-SVCKER.—yEgot/iem novm-hoUanaim. (See page 9G.) mated bird, quick, light, and active in all its movements, and scarcely to be recognized as the same being which but a few hours ago seemed hardly able to move a head or limb without difficulty. At the earliest approach of nightfall the Tawny-shouldered Podargus sets oii on its travels in search of food, and chases the insects on which it feeds with great agility and perseverance. A MITCH smaller but very beautiful example of the Podargi is the Moth Plumed Podar- gus (Podargus phalcenoMes), so called on accou
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
