*jO Synopsis of the Birds 



Inhabits all North America ; more common in the northern 

 and middle states; in winter also in the southern, Mexico 

 and even Cayenne. 



FAMILY IX. CHELIDONES. 



Hiantes, III. Fissirostres, Cuv. Chelidones, Vieill. Ranz. 

 Latirostres, Lair. Order Chelidones, Temm. 



Bill very small, much depressed, very wide at base ; up- 

 per mandible incurved, compressed at tip : gape very large. 

 Feet very short and slender; tarsi annulated; toes short ; 

 nails short, arcuated, more or less slender and acute. Wings 

 greatly elongated, very acute. 



Female and young generally differ but little from the 

 adult male. Moult annually. 



Feed exclusively on insects, which they swallow flying. 

 Migrate to tropical countries in winter. Flight very rapid 

 and protracted : hardly walk. Vision acute, diurnal or noc- 

 turnal. Voice destitute of harmony or modulation. 



NOCTURNAL 



. Head very large ; eyes and ears very large. Middle toe 

 nail pectinated on the inner side. Plumage loose, soft, and 

 light. 



13. CAPRIMULGUS. 



Caprimulgus, L. Briss. Gm. Lath. Cuv. III. Temm. Ranz. 

 Caprimulgus, Nyctibius, Vieill. 



Bill extremely short, feeble, cleft beyond the eyes ; upper 

 mandible almost always surrounded by divergent bristle?, 

 somewhat hooked at tip ; lower somewhat recurved at tip ; 

 margins vertical or turned outwards: nostrils basal, wide, 

 partly closed by a feathered membrane, leaving generally a 

 tubular opening : tongue very small, cartilaginous, more or 

 less acute, narrow, entire. Tarsi partly feathered; fore 

 toes connected to the first joint by a small membrane : 

 middle toe generally much longer than the latpral and pos- 



