vy jf 



ORDER ML GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, AND HUMMING- 

 BIRDS. 



MACROCHIRES. 



Family 1. GOATSUCKERS. CAPRIMULGIM:. 6 species, 6 sub- 

 species. 



Family 2. SWIFTS. MICROPODID^:, 4 species. 



Family 3. HUMMINGBIRDS. TROCHILID.E. 17 species. 



The Goatsuckers are birds of the dusk and early morning. They 

 live chiefly on insects which they capture on the wing, their enormous 

 mouths being especially well adapted to this kind of hunting. Our 

 species build no nest but lay their two mottled eggs on the bare ground 

 or leaves. The young are hatched covered with down and can follow 

 their parents about long before they acquire the power of flight. Goat- 

 suckers are noted for their singular calls, most of the species uttering 

 loud, characteristic notes which, heard at night, are especially effective. 



Swifts are birds of world-wide distribution; about half the seventy- 

 five known species being found in America. They are pre-eminently 

 birds of the air with wings so well developed that few birds can sur- 

 pass them in power of flight, but with feet so weak and small that 

 many species cannot perch as do most birds, but, when resting, cling to 

 a vertical surface and use their tail to aid their feet in supporting 

 themselves. Their nests are often marvels of architectural skill and 

 constructive ability. The eggs, four to six in number, are white. 



Hummingbirds are found only in America where they range from 

 .Patagonia to Alaska, but the larger part of the some five hundred 

 known species are found in the Andean region of Columbia and Ecua- 

 dor. Only one species is found east of the Mississippi, and nine 

 of our sixteen western species advance but little beyond our Mexican 

 border. 



Hummingbirds nests are the most exquisite of birds' homes. 

 Their eggs, so far as is known, number two, and are pure white. The 

 young are born naked and, in the case of our Ruby-throat, at least, 

 spend about three weeks in the nest. 



The notes of some tropical Hummingbirds are sufficiently varied to 

 be classed as songs but our species utter only sharp squeaks and ex- 

 cited chipperings. 



155 



