STEATORK-ITHTD^. 653 



Family STEATORNITHIDiE. 



(By EENST HAETERT.) 



The Gudcliaros resemble the Podargidce in the desmognathous 

 palate and many other respects, but they differ in so many important 

 characters, that it becomes difficult to place them in the system. 

 The plumage is not so soft as that of the Caj)rimulgidce and Podar- 

 gidcp. The bill resembles somewhat that of the Coraciidce ■ the 

 number of rectrices is ten ; the form of the wing is more like that 

 of a Coracias than that of a Caprimulgus, the third and fourth 

 primary longest, Easipterygoid processes are present. The tarsus 

 is naked and short, only about half as long as the middle toe (cf. 

 p. 434). ■' 



The nidification is singular. The eggs are said to be four in 

 number, and are pure white. 



They inhabit caves, and are crepuscular in their habits. 



Bange. Movuitainous districts of northern and western parts of 

 South America (Guiana to Peru). 



1. STEATORNIS. „^ 



Type. 



Steatornis, Huviboldt, Bull. Soc. FMlom. Paris, s6r. 3, 



xrii. p. 295 (1810) S. caripensis. 



Range. That of the family. 



1. Steatornis caripensis. 



Caprimulgus sp., Humboldt, Joum. de Phys. liii. p. 57 (1801) ; 

 Humh. et Bonpland, Toy. mix Peg. Equinoct. Obs. Astron. i. 

 p. 295(1810) (Venezuela). 



Steatornis caripensis, Humboldt, Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, s^r. 3, 

 xvii. p. 295 (1810) (Venezuela). 



Trinidad Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Hist. B. vii. p. 365 (1823) 

 (Trinidad). 



Nyctibius steatornis, Ster>h. Gen. Zool. xiii. pt. 2, p. 91 (1825). 



Steatornis caripensis, Humb. et Bonpl. Pev. d'Obs. Zool. ii. p. 141, 

 pi. 44 (1833) ; LHerminier, Nouv. Ann. Mus. dHist. Nat. Paris, 

 iii. p. 321, p]. 15 (1834) (Venezuela) ; id. Co^npt. Pendus, iii. p. 67 

 (1836), vii. p. 474 (1838) ; Hautessier, Pev. Zool. i. p. 164 (1838) ; 

 Midi. Monatsbr. Berlin Ac. 1841, p. 172 ; id. Archiv f. Naturr/. 

 1842, p. 1 ; Des Murs, Pev. Zool. vi. p. 33 (1843) ; id. Traite 

 d'Ool. Orn. p. 260 (1860) ; Funck, Bull. Ac. P. Brua-elles, xi. 

 pt. 2, p. 371 (1844) ; Gray, Gen. Birds, i. p. 44 (1846) (Guade- 

 loupe, errore !) ; B2}. Consp. 1. p. 57 (1850) ; TMenem. Foripjlanz. 

 yes. Vog. pi. xhi. fig. 24 (1854) (esrgs fig.) ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, 

 p. 135 (Bogota), 1866, pp. 125, 130, 145, 1868, p. 73 (egg), 

 1869, p. 467; Blanchard, Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. 4, xi. p. 105, pi. iv. 

 fig. 30 (1859) (anatom.) ; Cab. S^ Heine, Mus. Hein. iii. p. 95 

 (1860); Taylor, Pjis, 1864, p. 88 (Trinidad); Leotaud, Ois. 



