398 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Family CAPRIMULGIDiE. — The Goatsuckers. 



Char. Bill very short ; the gape enormously long and wide, opening to beneath or 

 behind the eyes. Culmen variable. Toes connected by a movable skin; secondaries 

 leno-thened ; plmnage soft, sometimes very full and loose, as in the Owls. 



The preceding diagnosis in connection with that of tlie order will suffice 

 to separate the Caprimulgidce from their allies. Tlieir closest relatives are 

 the Ci/pscUdce, next to which perhaps may be reckoned the Trochilidce. 



In defining the subdivisions of this family, we make use of an excellent 

 monograph of the American species by Dr. Sclater, in Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society, London, 1866, 123. He establishes three subfamilies as 

 follows : — 



I. Podarginae. Claw of middle toe not pectinated; outer toe with five 

 phalanges. Sternum with two pairs of posterior fissures. 



Outer pair of posterior sternal fissures much deeper than inner 

 pair ; tarsus long and naked. Eggs colorless. Podargus, Batracho- 

 stomus, jEgutheles, Old World. 



Outer pair of posterior fissures much deeper than inner pair ; 

 tarsus extremely short and feathered. JSfijctibius, New World. 



II. Steatornithinae. Claw of middle toe not pectinated ; outer toe with 

 five plialanges. Sternum with one pair of shallow posterior fissures. Eggs 

 colorless. Steatornis, New World. 



III. Caprimulginae. Claw of middle toe pectinated ; outer toe with four 

 phalanges only. Sternum with one pair of shallow posterior fissures. Eggs 

 colored (colorless in Antrostomus nuttalli, Baird). 



a. Olabrirostres. Rictus smooth. Podager, Lurocalia, Chordeiles, 

 New World. Lyncorjiis, Eurystopodus, Old World. 



b. Setirostres. Rictus armed with strong bristles. Cajjrimidgus, 

 Scotornis, Macrodipteryx, Old World ; Antrostomus, Stenopsis, Hydrop- 

 salis, Heleothreptus, Nyctidromus, Siphonorhis, New World. 



Dr. Sclater is of the opinion that Podargus may ultimately have to be 

 placed in a different family from the Capriviulgidce, with or without the 

 other genera placed under Podargince ; of these NyctiUiis, the sole New 

 World genus has species in Middle (including Jamaica) and South America. 

 Steatornis caripcnsis, the single representative of the second subfamily, is 

 found in Trinidad, Venezuela, and Colombia. It lives in caverns and deep 

 chasms of the rocks, becoming excessively fat (whence the scientific name), 

 and is said to feed on fruits. The bill is large and powerful, more like 

 that of a Hawk than a Goatsucker. 



Subfamily C APRIMULGINiE. 



Char. Outer toes with four digits only; claw of middle toe pectinated. Sternum 

 with one pair only of sternal fissures or notches. Toes scutellate above. Hind toe 

 directed a little more than half forward, nostrils separated ; rather nearer the commissure 

 than the culmen. 



