I believe it is a podargus or Night Hawk."
"Sketches of the Natural History of Ceylon"
J. Emerson Tennent
In the entrance of the passage the podargus unfortunately took the ground, by which circumstance I was deprived of the valuable and gallant services of her commander during the remainder of the day, and was in consequence obliged to leave the Flamer to her assistance; but in Captain Weir, of the Calypso, I found everything that could be wished for, which in a great measure made up for the loss I had sustained in the podargus and Flamer.
"Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez. Vol II"
Sir John Ross