81 



Suborder kiv. Momoti *. (Xeotropical.) 

 Suborder Ixr. Todi f. (Antilles.) 



Suborder Ixvi. Caprimulgi f . (Xearly Cosmopolitan.) 



Fam. 1. Nyctibiidj2. 

 Fam. 2. Capeimi'lgid^. 



Suborder Ixvii. Cypseli §. (Cosmopolitan.) 



Suborder Ixviii. Trochili ||. (Xeogsean.) 



* Palate desmognathousj basipterygoid processes absent; sternum with four 

 notches on posterior margin, converted into foramina ; two carotid arteries present ; 

 spinal feather-tract well defined on neck, and not forked on the upper back ; after- 

 shaft of contour-feathers present ; cajca absent ; hallux always present, and connected 

 with the Jiexor perforans diyitorum. Bill serrated. ( Cf. Seebohm, t. c. p. 20 ; 

 Stejneger, t. c. p. 395 ; Mm-ie, Ibis, 1S72, pp. 383-412, pis. xiii.-xv.) 



t Palate desmognathous ; basipterygoid processes absent ; sternum with four 

 notches on the posterior margin, open, and not converted into foramina as in the 

 Momoti; cseca large; ambieus muscle abs -nt ; no carotid arteries present; hallux 

 present and connected with the Jiexor perforans digitorum ; spinal feather-tract well 

 defined on neck, and not forked on the back; oil-gland with well-developed tufts. 

 Nest none, a hole being tunnelled by the birds themselves. Eggs four, white. 



X Palate schizognathous, the vomer trun:ated behind ; basipterygoid processes 

 present ; semitendinosus muscle present ; ambieus muscle absent : hallux present and 

 connected with the Jiexor perforans digitorum ; feet anisodactyle ; spinal feather-tract 

 well defined on the neck, but forked on the upper back ; oil-gland not tufted. Xest 

 none. Eggs white, with scroll-like markings and spots. Young hatched helpless, 

 but covered with down. 



§ Palate segithognathous ; basipterygoid processes absent ; caeca absent ; semiten- 

 dinosus muscle absent ; all four toes directed forwards ; hallux present and connected 

 with the Jiexor perforans digitorum ; sternum wdth a high keel and an unnotched 

 posterior margin ; spinal feather-tract well defined on the neck, but forked on the 

 upper back; no median coverts {cf Goodchild, Proc. R. Phys. Soc. Edinb. x. p. 331) ; 

 oil-gland nude. {Cf. also Stejneger, S. X. Hist. p. 430.) Form of nest various (differing 

 with the genera) — concealed (^Cypsebis, Chcetura), pendent, with a tube {Panyptila), 

 cup-shaped, in a cave {CoUocalia), exposed on a stump {^Dendrochelidon). Egg white. 

 Young, when hatched, naked. 



II Palate schizognathous ^ ; basipterygoid processes absent ; nasals holorhinal ; 

 sternum with a deep keel, rounded at the posterior end, without indentations ; left 

 carotid present ; oil-gland nude ; caeca absent ; tongue extensile, the hyoid bones 

 cm-ved over the back of the skull as in the Woodpeckers ; front plantar leading to 

 three front toes ; hind plantar leading to hallux ; primaries 10, the secondaries very- 

 short ; tail-feathers 10 ; no median coverts. {Cf. Goodchild, Proc. R. Phys. Soc. Edinb. 

 x. p. 331.) Xest generally cup-shaped, on a branch, sometimes attached to the side 

 of a rock. Eggs white, oval, two m number. 



' Professor Stewart, from dissections which he has recently made, considers the 

 palatine arrangement of the Trochili to be merely a modification of the segithognathous 

 type. 



