3ti(3 BIBDB OF ILLINOIS. 



Family CAPRIMULGID^.— The GoAxsrcKERs. 



Cdak. Bill very short; the eape enormously lone '>nd wido, opening to beneath or 

 behind the eyes. Culmen vnrliible. Toes connected at buso by a movable skin; second- 

 aries lenRtliened; pluuuiKe soft, sometimes very full and loose, as In the Owls. 



The above brief diagnosis is sufficient to distinguish this family 

 from all others in North America, especially when taken in con- 

 nection with that given on page 358. 



The North America genera are distinguished by the following 

 characters : , 



A. Gape with conspicuous bristles; tail even or rounded. 



a. Tarsus feathered in front almost to the toes, and shorter than the middle toe. 

 Fir.st auill longer than the fourth. 



1. Antrostomus. Tail rounded, shorter than the wing. 



b. Tarsus entin'ly naked in front, and longer than the middle toe. First quill shorter 

 than till' fciiirlli. 



L'. FhaleenoptiluB Tall even and mui'h shorter than the wing. Pluniage with a 

 1 iiliaily soft, velvety surface. Sexes with the tail not dlflerently marki'd. 



3. Nyotidromus. Tail rounded, long as the wing. Sexes with the tail very differ- 

 I'lilly iiDirki.'d. 



B. Gape withuui conspicuous bristles; tail omarginatod or slightly forked. 



4 . Chordeileg. 



Genus ANTROSTOMUS Goild. 



Antroflomus Gould, Icones Avium, IStS. Typo. Caprimulgus cnrolim-nsis Gm. 



Gen. Char. Bill very small, with tubular nostrils, and the gape with long, si i(T, some- 

 times pcH^tinaled bristles projecting beyond the end of the bill. Tarsi shorler than mid- 

 dle toe, chiedy fathered. Tail broad, rounded; wings broad and rounded; first iiuill 

 shorter than third, but longer than the fourth; pUinuige .mifi and hix. Habits uocturnal. 



The two North American species, both of which occur in Illinois, 

 may be distinguished as follows : 



A. lli'liil bristles with lateral lllamcnts. Wing more than 8 inches. 



1. A. oarolinensis, Mali'. Terminal half or third of inner webs of three outer tnil- 

 fi ntle'is liully whitish or ochraeeous. fVma/c. Outer tail-feathers without light 

 tips. 



B. Rii'tal bristles without lateral lllaments. Wing less than 7 inches. 



'.'. A. vociferus. Mali'. Tail-feathers (except middle iiair) with terminal third of both 

 webs while, f'finale. Tail-feathers without white tips. 



