INSESSORES : CYPSELHXE. 1 57 



New Mexico, is five and a half inches long, and the wing 

 five inches. 



The Genus Nephcecetes comprises Swifts with naked, 

 slender legs, forked tail, and first primary longest. 



The Northern Swift, N. niger, Baird, of Northwestern 

 America to the West Indies, is six and three quarters 

 inches long, with the wing of the same length. The 

 general color is dark sooty-brown, with a greenish gloss. 



The Genus Chcetura is characterized by the even tail 

 and stiffened shafts projecting as spinous points. 



The Chimney Swallow, C. pelasgia, Steph., of North 

 America east of the Rocky Mountains, is five and a quar- 

 ter inches long, the wing over five inches. 



The Oregon Swift, C. Vauxii, De Kay, of the Pacific 

 coast, is less than five inches long, and the wing four and 

 three fourths inches. 



CAPRIMULGID.E, OR GOAT-SUCKER FAMILY. This 

 Family comprises birds with a short triangular bill, and 

 soft, lax, owl-like plumage. They feed upon insects, which 

 they capture while upon the wing. 



The Genus Antrostomus is characterized by a bill with 

 conspicuous bristles, rounded wings, broad graduated tail, 

 and very lax plumage. 



Chuck-will's Widow, A. carolinensis, of the South At- 

 lantic and Gulf States, is twelve inches long, the wing 

 eight and a half inches, the bristles of the bill with lat- 

 eral filaments ; general color pale rufous, top of the head 

 reddish-brown streaked with black, and the terminal two 

 thirds of the tail, except the four central feathers, ru- 

 fous-white. The female is without the white upon the 

 tail. In early spring the forests echo with the notes 

 of this interesting bird. 



The Whippoorwill, A. vociferus, Bonap., of Eastern 

 United States to the Central Plains, is ten inches long, 

 the wing six and a half inches, the bristles of the bill 



