Synopsis of Orders and Families. 



Order XVI. Goatsuckers, Swifts, and Hummingbirds. 

 MACROCHIRES. 



(3 families, 27 species, 6 subspecies.) 

 Bill, in the Goatsuckers and Swifts, small; mouth large; in the Hum- 

 mingbirds, bill long, slender, needle-like; wings and tail variable; feet, 

 in all three groups, small and weak. Color, in Goatsuckers, mixed 

 brown, buff and black; in Swifts, black and white; in Hummingbirds, 

 usually shining green above with resplendent throat-patches of varied 

 hues. 



WHIP-POOR-WILL. 



Family 44. GOATSUCKERS, ETC. CAPRIMULGID/E. 



Feet usually small and weak; toes, three in front, one behind; middle toe-nail pectin- 

 ate or combed; bill small; mouth very large and usually beset by long bristles. 



CHIMNEY SWIFT. 



Family 45. SWIFTS. MlCROPODID/E. 



Bill small, triangular when seen from above; mouth large, no bristles; tail variable, 

 in Chcetura with projecting spines; wings long and narrow; feet small and toes short; 

 plumage usually dark. 



RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. 



Family 46. HUMMINGBIRDS. TROCH1LID/E. 



Bill long and slender; feet slender; wings large and pointed; tail exceedingly variable, 

 often assuming the most striking shapes. 



33 



