CAPRIMULGHLE. CLX. 269 



of black ; no nuchal crescent ; no yellowish on belly ; the black spots 

 fewer and smaller. L. 14. W. 6f. T. 5. Western, E. to Kan. 

 Runs into the preceding, of which it is often considered a variety. 1 



ORDER XLV. MACKOCHIBES. (THE SWIFTS AND 



HUMMING BIRDS.) 



Fissirostral and tenuirostral Picarice. Wing very long and 

 pointed, the fingers and primaries especially elongate. Feet small, 

 weak, with three toes in front, one behind, the hind toe usually 

 somewhat elevated; tail-feathers 10; palate aegithognathous, as in 

 the Passeres. There are three families, all represented within our 

 limits, (pa/epos, long; ^eip, hand.) 

 a. Bill fissirostral, swallow-like; secondaries more than 6. 

 b. Middle toe much longer than lateral toes, its claw pectinate; rictus with 



bristles; plumage very soft CAPRIMULGID.E, 160. 



bb. Middle toe scarcely longer than lateral toes, its claw not pectinate; no 



rictal bristles ; plumage compact MICROPODID^E, 161. 



aa. Bill tenuirostral, very long and slender; secondaries 6; plumage com- 

 pact, with metallic lustre TROCHILID^E, 162. 



FAMILY CLX. CAPRIMULGID^B. (THE 



GOATSUCKERS.) 



Bill very short, fissirostral, the gape exceedingly deep and 

 wide, reaching to below the eyes, and usually with prominent rictal 

 bristles. Wings long and pointed; secondaries lengthened. Plu- 

 mage long and loose. Tail feathers 10. Feet very small; tarsus 

 short ; toes slightly webbed at base, the middle claw pectinate ; hind 

 toe somewhat elevated and lateral. Genera 14; species 100 or 

 more, widely diffused ; chiefly insectivorous, largely nocturnal, and 

 of noiseless flight, like the owls. (Lat., copra, goat ; mulgeo, to 

 suck, from an old tradition.) 

 a. Rictal bristles very long; tail rounded; tarsus largely feathered. 



ANTROSTOMUS, 448. 

 aa. Rictal bristles inconspicuous; tail emarginate. . . . CHORDEILES, 449. 



448. ANTROSTOMUS Gould. (avrpov, cave; <rr6pa, mouth.) 

 a. Rictal bristles with lateral branches. 



854. A. carolinensis (Gmelin). CHUCKWILL'S WIDOW. More 

 reddish than A. vociferus. L. 12. W. 9. T. 6. U. S., N. to S. 111. 

 aa. Rictal bristles simple. 



855. A. vociferus (Wilson). WHIPPOORWILL. NIGHT JAR. 

 Grayish, very much variegated with blackish and buffy ; pectoral 

 bar and ends of outer tail feathers white ( $ ) or tawny ( 9 ). L. 10. 

 W. 6. T. 5. E. U. S., abundant in damp woods ; nocturnal ; 

 noted for its " solemn and prophetic cry," continually repeated in 

 the night. 



1 In the west you will find specimens auratus on one side of body, cafer on the 

 other, tail gilded on some feathers, rubricated on others. (Coues.) 



