(FORK-TAILED GOATSUCKER.)
[Plate XII.]
[Illustration: HYDROPSALIS FURCIFERA.]
+Hydropsalis furcifera+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 96; _Durnford,
Ibis_, 1877, p. 185 (Buenos Ayres); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 24
(Entrerios). +Hydropsalis psalurus+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii.
p. 450 (Paraná). +Hydropsalis torquata+, _Lee, Ibis_, 1873, p.
134 (Gualeguaychú).
_Description._--Above brown varied with black; a light rufous collar
on the back of the neck; wing-coverts with numerous rounded white or
fulvous spots; wings black, crossed beneath by pale rufous bands;
outer primary edged with white: beneath paler, with a pale fulvous
throat-collar; tail with the outer rectrix twice as long as the
middle pair, black, edged with white; the next three pairs similar,
but gradually diminishing in length; the middle pair like the back,
and rather longer than the second pair: whole length 20·0 inches,
wing 7·2, tail 15·5. _Female_ similar, but tail short, black banded
with fulvous, and without any white.
_Hab._ Paraguay and Argentina.
This remarkable Goatsucker was often observed by Durnford in the
province of Buenos Ayres in spring and autumn. It lives on the ground,
generally in damp situations, and where the grass is long and thick
enough to afford some slight cover, and is generally observed in parties
of four or five individuals. Its flight is noiseless, and performed by
jerky erratic movements. In Entrerios Mr. Barrows tells us this species
is a "rather common summer resident, arriving in August and leaving in
May. While hunting capybaras and armadillos by moonlight he frequently
had good opportunities for watching its movements. Its flight is
nearly as irregular and as noiseless as that of a butterfly, while
its beautiful tail is opened and shut in the same manner as with the
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Alighting frequently on the ground or on
stones or roots, it keeps up a continual but very soft clucking, which
is the only note uttered. It was most often seen in open grassy or sandy
spots in the woods, especially along the margins of the streams. By day
it sits close on the ground, and if disturbed only flies a few yards,
though it evidently sees well." Of its nesting-habits and eggs Mr.
Barrows did not obtain any information.
The figure (Plate XII.) is taken from a specimen in Sclater's
collection, which was obtained at Gualeguaychú in Entrerios by Mr. Lee.