C YPSELID^:. CAPRIMULGUXE. 1 1 



During his last journey Durnford obtained examples of this species 

 near Salta; and White found it very abundant and breeding near 

 Catamarca in the month of September. 



According to Mr. Barrows the Glittering Humming-bird is also 

 very common in Entrerios ; he writes as follows : " Very abundant 

 at Concepcion in summer, arriving from the north early in September 

 and departing again in April. Though found everywhere among 

 flowers,, they are particularly partial to open ground, flowery fields, 

 gardens, &c., and in October it was not uncommon to have six or eight 

 in sight at once. 



Fam. XXI. CYPSELID^E, on SWIFTS. 



The cosmopolitan family of Swifts is, so far as is yet known, repre- 

 sented by one species only in the Argentine Republic. This is a fine 

 large form of wide distribution, which extends over most of Southern 

 and Central America. 



241. HEMIPROCNE ZONAEIS (Shaw). 

 (RINGED SPINE-TAILED SWIFT.) 



Hemiprocne zonaris, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 95. Acanthylis collaris, 

 Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 449 (Mendoza). 



Description. Black, glossed with bronzy ; a white collar round the neck, 

 rather broader in front ; tail spiny, slightly forked : whole length 8*5 inches, wing 

 7'5, tail 2-8. Female similar. 



Hab. Central and South America down to Argentina. 



Dr. Burmeister observed specimens of this fine large Spine-tailed 

 Swift near the Sierra of Mendoza in December and the following 

 month. 



Fam. XXII. CAPKEMULGID.E, OR GOATSUCKERS. 



Nearly fifty different species of the singular nocturnal birds com- 

 monly known as " Goatsuckers " are found in the Neotropical Region. 

 They are most numerous within the tropics, where insect-life is more 

 abundant, but also occur more sparingly intemperate latitudes. Six of 

 them have been recorded as having been met with within the limits 

 assigned to this work. 



The Goatsuckers generally take their insect-prey on the wing late in 



