168 



VERTEBRATA : AYES OK BIRDS. 



are alike in differing from all other birds ; and in having 

 no highly developed singing apparatus ; and in having, in 

 most or all cases, some one of their toes capable of being 

 turned and used in a direction opposite to that which is 

 the usual direction of birds' toes. Those known as Scan- 

 sores as Toucans, Cuckoos, Woodpeckers, etc. have two 

 of the toes directed forward and two directed backward. 



FIG. 196. 



Foot of a Picarian Bird Woodpecker, 



The Goatsuckers or Caprimulgidse are such as the 

 Chuckwill's-widow of the Southern States, and the Whip- 

 poorwill, and the well-known Night-hawk, etc., all of 

 which have a small triangular bill, enormous gape, large 

 head, and very lax plumage. As to size, they are much 

 smaller than a common dove. 



FIG. 197. 



Whippoorwill, Antrostomus vociferus, Bonaparte. 



The notes of the Whippoorwill are three, and have a 

 fancied resemblance to the syllables whip-poor-will, and 



