CAPRIMULGID. — CLX. 269 
of black; no nuchal crescent ; no yellowish on belly ; the black spots 
fewer and smaller. L.14. W.63. T.5. Western, E. to Kan. 
Runs into the preceding, of which it is often considered a variety. 
Orper XLV. MACROCHIRES. (THE Swirts AND 
HuMMING bibs.) 
Fissirostral and tenuirostral Picarie. Wing very long and 
pointed, the fingers and primaries especially elongate. Feet small, 
weak, with three toes in front, one behind, the hind toe usually 
somewhat elevated; tail-feathers 10; palate wgithognathous, as in 
the Passeres. ‘There are three families, all represented within our 
limits. (paxpds, long; xeip, hand.) 
a. Bill fissirostral, swallow-like; secondaries more than 6. 
b. Middle toe much longer than lateral! toes, its claw pectinate; rictus with 
bristles; plumage very soft. . . . . + « »« CAPRIMULGIDA, 160. 
bb. Middle toe scarcely longer than lateral toes, its claw not pectinate; no 
rictal bristles; plumage compact. . . . . « Microropip&, 161. 
aa. Bill tenuirostral, very long and slender; secondaries 6; plumage com- 
pact, with metallic lustre. . . . . TROCHILIDA, 162. 
Famiry CLX. CAPRIMULGIDA. (THe 
GOATSUCKERS.) 
Bill very short, fissirostral, the gape exceedingly deep and 
wide, reaching to below the eyes, and usually with prominent rictal 
bristles. Wings long and pointed; secondaries lengthened. Plu- 
mage long and loose. ‘Tail feathers 10. Feet very small; tarsus 
short; toes slightly webbed at base, the middle claw pectinate ; hind 
toe somewhat elevated and lateral. Genera 14; species 100 or 
more, widely diffused; chiefly insectivorous, largely nocturnal, and 
of noiseless flight, like the owls. (Lat., capra, goat; mulgeo, to 
suck, from an old tradition.) 
a. Rictal bristles very long; tail rounded; tarsus largely feathered. 
ANTROSTOMUS, 448. 
aa. Rictal bristles inconspicuous; tail emarginate. . . . CHORDEILES, 449. 
448. ANTROSTOMUS Gould. (évrpov, cave; ordpa, mouth.) 
a. Rictal bristles with lateral branches. 
854. A. carolinensis (Gmelin). CHuckwiLi’s Wipow. More 
reddish than A. vociferus. L.12. W.9. T.6}. U.S.,N.toS. Ill. 
aa. Rictal bristles simple. 
855. A. vociferus (Wilson). Waurtppoorwm.. Niet JAR. 
Grayish, very much variegated with blackish and buffy ; pectoral 
bar and ends of outer tail feathers white (¢) or tawny (Q). L. 10. 
W.6. T. 5. E. U. S., abundant in damp woods; nocturnal ; 
noted for its “solemn and prophetic ery,” continually repeated in 
the night. 
1 In the west you will find specimens auratus on one side of body, cafer on the 
other, tail gilded on some feathers, rubricated on others. (Cowes-) 
