358 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



OuDER MACROCHIRES. — The Goatsvckers, Swifts, and Hcm- 



MINOBIRDS. 



Ohabactbrs. Wines much lengthened, with 10 primaries; tall-featherB, lu; gape very 

 wide and doeply cleft, or else, (i. c. Sub-order Trochili), bill long and slender, the lonKue 

 extensile, and secondaries only six In number. 



Following is an analysis of the Families which have usually been 

 assigned to tliis Order. It may he remarked that the TravhU'uliF 

 possess very special characters which in the opinion of some system- 

 atists entitle them to rank as a distinct Order {Trochili). The 

 Trochiruhr and Micropod'uhe being vei7 much more nearly related 

 than either of these groups are to the C(ipri)niilffid<e, it is obvious 

 that the so-called "Order Macrochires" is a decidedly artificial 

 group. 



A. Secondaries more than 6; bill short, very broad at base, the gape deeply cleft; plu- 



mage not metallic. 



n. Middle toe much longer than lateral toes.ltsclow with inner edge pectinated: 

 gape distinctly bristled; plumage much spotted and otherwise varied. the feath- 

 ers soft, with downy or moth- like surface. (Sub-order C'(i;jriiiiii(i;i.)..Caprimulgids. 



b. Middle toe not distinctly longer than lateral toes, its claws withcut pectinated 



edge; gape without bristles; plumage plain and compact. (Suborder ('ui'H'li^ 



HiOTOpodido. 



B. Secondaries only C; bill long us head, or longer, slender, the gape not deeily cleft, 



plumage more or less metallic : size diminutive. (Suborder Trochili.). .Troohilide. 



