Through Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia the Goatsuckers are diffused, and naturalists have divided them into several sub-genera, such as Podargus, represented by Podargus humeralis of the Gold River, and Podargus javanensis, the Chabba-wonno of Java, and the Guacharo Bird, Steatornis villot of Humboldt and Bonpland.
The typical species of Caprimulgus is the Night-jar (C. europæus), [Fig. 245]. It is about the size of a Thrush; and Montagu states that he observed on one occasion a flock of eight or ten on the wing together, in the dusk of the evening, skimming over the surface of the ground, after the manner of Swallows, in pursuit of insects. Its nest is of the simplest kind, for it deposits its eggs on the bare ground, or upon a few dry leaves. These eggs, in number only two, are hatched by the female in fourteen days.
The Common Night-jar is chiefly found on furzy commons, wild bushy heaths, and broken hilly ground in the neighbourhood of thickets and woods. During the day it lies concealed in the scrub, issuing forth in the balmy summer evenings to pursue its insect prey on the wing.
On the prairies of North America, especially those intersected by sloughs, dozens of these birds may be seen at the hour of sunset, their swift, powerful, and graceful flight being worthy of the greatest admiration. They are there called Bull Bats, and are often accused by the ignorant of the crime of sucking milk from cows—about as probable as snakes being guilty of the same offence; yet there are hundreds who believe in such impossibilities.
The Night-jar is a bird of evil omen in the estimation of our rural population: such it has been considered since the days of Aristotle, and possibly even further back. The reverse should be the case, for the benefit it produces by clearing the air of noxious insects is incalculable.
The Guacharos are singular birds, which were first described by MM. Humboldt and Bonpland as being found in the interior of a vast Columbian cavern—the Grotto of Caripe. Their hooked bill and general aspect are more robust than the Night-jars, for they more resemble birds of prey. They inhabit in thousands the deep recesses of the caverns of the Cumana Chain, hanging to the walls by their pointed claws. In these caves, which they only leave during the night, they build their nests. Unlike their congeners, they feed only on grain and seeds. The Indians of Caripe enter these sombre domains from time to time, and make raids upon their ranks, for they are deservedly esteemed as great delicacies.
Fig. 245.—The Night-jar (Caprimulgus europæus, Sw.).
Dentirostres.
The Passerine Dentirostres are characterised by a bill more or less strong, compressed on each side of the point. They feed on berries and insects, and comprehend numerous genera, including the Fly-catchers (Muscicapidæ), the Manakins (Piprinæ), the Warblers (Sylvinæ), the Lyres (Lyra), the Orioles (Oriolus), the Philedons (Meliphagidæ), the Dippers (Cucelus), the Thrushes (Turdus), the Tanagers (Tanagrinæ), the Caringas (Coracina), and the Butcher Birds (Lanius).