RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Caprimulgus prodigiously elongated tail. CUL-DAR84.2.182. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2022. RN2
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).
Darwin cited this in Descent 2: 73.
182
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Caprimulgus prodigiously elongated tail & primary wing-feathers several times length of body - in one shaft bare for a space & ending in wing disc. — I noticed tail disc-feathers, in a mot-mot Eumomota superciliaris — splendid birds –
In a King-fisher tail — disc feathers — Humming — bird do — Dicrurus do — in some of Paradise birds, & disc feathers on head latter beautifully ocellated — disc feathers in tail of a finch — in head of Lophornis & Peacock — It is curious the same ornament being acquired by such different birds
Indian Drongo (D & Edolius during Breeding season sometimes disc turned vertically
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 17 August, 2025