Identifier: reptilesbirdspop00figu (find matches)
Title: Reptiles and birds : a popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting
Year: 1869 (1860s)
Authors: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Gillmore, Parker
Subjects: Birds Reptiles
Publisher: Springfield, Mass. : W.J. Holland
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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-depressed bill; the body small in proportion to theplumage; the neck short; the head large, broad, and depressed ;the eyes very large and broad; the feet very small; tarsipartially feathered; toes four, the lower surface broad andflattened, the anterior toes connected by basal membranes ; clawsmoderate, arched, and compressed. The plumage is full, soft,downy, and blended, like the Owls; the wings have the secondand third quills longest; tail long and rounded. Almost all thespecies have strong bristles along the base of the upper mandible, GOATSUCKERS. 539 and some have the feathers of the face radiated, like those of theOwls. The Goatsuckers are solitary birds, living generally in pairs,sleeping during the day, and issuing from their nest with thesetting sun, or possibly earlier in gloomy weather, to chase thecrejDuscular and nocturnal insects on which they feed. Theymove silently and with great rapidity. Some authors say thatwhen on the wing they keep the mouth open; but this is not
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Fig. 241.—Nest of the Salaiigane Swallow. supported by facts, and is opposed to reason. The insects theyprincipally devour are moths, dragon-flies, beetles, crickets, cock-chafers, and mosquitoes. Their usefulness, therefore, is nearlvequal to that of the Swallow. As they get very plump andfat in the autumn, they fall a sacrifice to the gunner, and intheir turn are eaten by gourmets greater than themselves. 540 PASSEEINES. They are migratory birds, travelling only during the night.They are readily distinguished by the bristles at the base of thebill, and by the claws of the middle toe, which is toothed.The object of this toothed appendage has been the subject ofspeculation. Some writers fond of the marvellous even surmisethat it is intended to comb and smooth the head feathers. Mr.Vigors is of opinion that it may be useful as a further powerof prehension, citing, in support of his view, the family of theArdeid(B among the AVading birds, which exhibit an analogousconstruction in the

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