frogsmouth

n.

an Australian bird; genus Podargus, commonly called Mopoke (q.v.). Themouth and expression of the face resemble the appearance of afrog. The species are – – Freckled Frogsmouth – – Podargus phaloenoides, Gould.

♣ Marbled F. – – P. marmoratus, Gould.

♣ Plumed F. – – P. papuensis, Quoy and Gaim.

♣ Tawney F. – – P. strigoides, Lath.

1895. W. O. Legge, `Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science' (Brisbane), p. 447:

«The term `Frogsmouth' is used in order to get rid of that veryobjectionable name Podargus, and as being allied to theother genera Batrachostomus and Otothrix of thefamily Steatorninae in India. It is a name well suitedto the singular structure of the mouth, and presumably betterthan the mythical title of `Goatsucker.' `Night-hawk,'sometimes applied to the Caprimulginae, does not accordwith the mode of flight of the genus Podargus.»