SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS xiii 
ORDER PICARIZ 
Opposed to the Passeres, The feet are relatively weaker and smaller. 
FAMILY CYPSELIDZ 
(SwIFTs) 
Tai) of ten feathers (swallows have twelve). Gape very wide. 
49. CypsE tus (Swift). Bill veryshort, flattened horizontally, triangular 3 
upper mandible curved downwards at the point; gape extending 
beyond the eyes; legs very short; toes all directed forwards ; 
wings extremely long ; first primary a little shorter than the second. 
Page 123 
FAMILY CAPRIMULGIDZE 
(GOATSUCKERS) 
The bill in this family resembles that of the Swallows, but is shorter and 
,weaker ; the gape is enormous and its sides are, for the most part, furnished 
with long and stiff bristles, which point forwards; the wings are long, and 
formed for powerful flight; the feet are small, and feathered to the toes ; 
plumage soft and downy, and beautifully mottled with black, brown, grey, 
and white, varying in colour with the soil of their habitat ; the claw of the 
middle toe is dilated on one side and toothed likeacomb. Tail of ten feathers. 
Nocturnal birds, feeding on large insects, which they capture in their flight. 
50. Caprimutcus (Goatsucker or Nightjar). Bill very short, somewhat 
curved, broad and flattened at the base; upper mandible curved 
downwards at the tip; gape extending beyond the eyes, and armed 
with strong bristles; wings long; first primary shorter than the 
second, which is the longest. Page 125 
FAMILY PICIDZE 
(WooDPECKERS) 
Feet short, but of unusual strength; the rigid toes diverge from a centre, 
two pointing forwards, and two backwards; claws large, much curved, 
and very hard and sharp; breast-bone shallow; flight weak and undulating. 
SUB-FAMILY PICIN2 
Tail feathers stiff and pointed: nostrils covered with bristles. 
g1. DrENDRocopus (Spotted Woodpeckers). Bill about as long as the 
head, robust, straight, irregular, compressed, pyramidal, laterally 
bevelled at the tip; tongue long and extensile, the tip barbed ; 
nostrils basal, oval, concealed by reflected bristly feathers; wings 
with the first primary very short, fourth and fifth longest; tail- 
feathers graduated, stiff and pointed. Fourth toe much longer 
than third. Prevailing colours of the plumage black and white, 
or black and red. Page 127 
sz. Gecinus (Green Woodpecker). Bill hard, broad at base, compressed 
at tip; upper mandible slightly arched, ending abruptly with 
shallow groove on each side running parallel to and near the culmen, 
and longer than lower mandible, which is pointed and has the 
gonys nearer the tip than the base and the tomia rounded. The 
fourth toe equal to the third. Prevailing colour greenish, otherwise 
much as in Dendrocopus. Page 129 
