THE WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus vociferus).
The AFRICAN NIGHT JARS (Scotornis) constitute a group of birds distinguished from their congeners by their remarkably long graduated tail, which far exceeds the body in length; the third quill of the wing is longer than the rest, thereby rendering it less pointed than that of most Goatsuckers; the beak is very small and delicate, and the bristles at its base comparatively long; the inner toes are longer than those on the exterior. The plumage is somewhat difficult to describe; in Scotornis climacurus the body is principally of a pale reddish brown, with dark markings; the chin, cheek-stripes, and extremities of the smaller wing-covers are white, the quills black, spotted with grey on the lower half; the first six are striped with white in the middle; the rest are spotted with red and black, and tipped with white. The centre tail-feathers are marked with undulating lines of different shades; those at the exterior are white upon the outer web, and the two next in order terminate in a white spot; the lower side is a mixture of brown and grey, arranged in wave-like curves. The male is about fifteen inches long and twenty broad; the wing measures five inches and a half and the tail full nine and a half. The body of the female is considerably shorter than that of her mate. All the sparely-covered, sandy plains of Central Africa afford a home to the members of this group. According to our own observations they are rarely found beyond sixteen degrees north latitude; other authorities affirm that they occasionally wander as far as Europe, and have been met with in Provence, but we are inclined to question the accuracy of this statement.
The LYRE-TAILED NIGHT JARS (Hydropsalis), a group of very remarkable birds inhabiting South America, are recognisable by their long powerful wings, in which the first quill is much bent; their slender, but comparatively strong beak; their delicate feet, partially covered with feathers, and protected with horny plates upon its lower half; and their remarkably forked tail, which in the male bird is occasionally of great length.
THE LYRE-TAILED NIGHT JAR.
THE LYRE-TAILED NIGHT JAR (Hydropsalis forcipata).
The LYRE-TAILED NIGHT JAR (Hydropsalis forcipata), as the species with which we are most familiar has been called, is spotted with brown and yellow upon its body, the centre of the throat being white. The exterior tail-feathers of this beautiful bird are from twenty-six to twenty-eight inches long, while the body does not exceed seven, and the wing nine inches. According to Azara, the Lyre-tailed Night Jar is somewhat rarely met with, as it usually frequents the inmost recesses of the vast forests of South America. Its scientific name, Hydropsalis, has been derived from the fact that like other Night Swallows it flies close to the water when passing over the lakes or rivers in search of food.