BIRDS OP NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 503 



Genus ANTROSTOMUS Bonaparte. 



Antrostomus Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, 8." (Type, as fixed by- 

 Gray, 1840, Capriviulgus carolinensis Gmelin.) 



Medium sized to rather large Caprimulginag (length about 230-380 

 mm.) with tai*sus slightly shorter to slightly longer than middle too 

 without claw, the upper two-thirds to three-fourths feathered (except 

 behmd) ; longest primaries exceedmg distal secondaries by not more 

 than half the length of wing, the tenth (outermost) much shorter 

 than eighth; tail two-thirds to three-fourths as long as wing, more or 

 less distmctly rounded; culinen not arched, the mesorhinium not 

 depressed; nostrils not distinctly tubular (or the tube very short), 

 in anterior end of nasal fossae; primaries spotted with ochraceous- 

 buff or tawny, without white spot on either web. 



Bill moderately broad basally, its length from frontal feathering 

 equal to not more than one and a half times its width at same point; 

 culmen not arched but gradually decurved from base, the meso- 

 rhinium not depressed. Nostril not distinctly tubular (or else the 

 tube very short), in anterior end of nasal fossa, openmg antero- 

 laterally. Rictal bristles conspicuous, reaching to or beyond tip of 

 bill. Wing moderate, the longest primaries exceeding distal secon- 

 daries by not more (usually less) than half the length of whig; eighth 

 and ninth primaries usually equal and longest (nmth longest in A. 

 carolinensis only), the tenth (outermost) much shorter than eighth 

 (equal to or slightly shorter than seventh, except in A. carolinensis, 

 in which the difference between tenth and eighth is much less than 

 between tenth and seventh); seventh, eighth, and ninth primaries 

 with outer web distinctly sinuated, except in A. carolinensis (in which 

 only the eighth and nmth are sinuated). Tail two-thu'ds to three- 

 fourths as long as wing, distmctly to rather strongly rounded, the 

 rectrices rather broad and appreciably widening distally (except in 

 A. goldmani and A. ridgwayi). Tarsus slightly shorter to shghtly 

 longer than middle toe without claw, feathered for about upper two- 

 thirds to three-fourths, except behind; hallux, with claw, slightly to 

 much longer than basal phalanx of middle toe. 



Plumage and coloration. — No special development of plumage of head 

 nor chest. Primaries spotted (usually on both webs) with ochraceous- 

 buff or tawny, but without any white spot on either web; tail with 

 white (males) or buff (females) on distal portion of thi'ee outer pau-s 

 of rectrices, at least on inner web ; pUeum streaked or longitudinally 

 blotched with black, at least medially; a band of white or buffy across 

 lower throat (except in A. saturatus). 



Range. — Eastern temperate North America to Mexico and south- 

 ward to Peru, Brazil, and the Guianas. (About fourteen species.) 



o See Stone, Auk, xxiv, 1907, 196, and Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. N. H., xxiv, 1908, 32. 



