It inhabits the brushes of the east coast, and in its habits and economy resembles the other species of the group.
| 41. Podargus humeralis, Vig. & Horsf. | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 3. |
| 42. Podargus Cuvieri, Vig. & Horsf. | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 4. |
| 43. Podargus brachypterus, Gould. |
- Podargus brachypterus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. 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.
It is a native of Western Australia.
| 44. Podargus Phalænoïdes, Gould | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 5. |
| 45. Podargus plumiferus, Gould | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 6. |
Genus Eurostopodus, Gould.
Generic characters.
Bill somewhat more produced and stouter than in Caprimulgus; nostrils lateral and linear; rictus entirely devoid of bristles, but furnished with short, weak, divided and branching hairs; wings longer and more powerful than in Caprimulgus; first and second quills equal and longest; tail moderately long and nearly square; 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.