32 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



ORDER II. PASSERES. 



Bill moderate, strong, subconic. Upper mandible more or less notched at the 

 point. Toes four (rarely three). Hind toe articulated on a level with the 

 rest, and bearing on the ground its whole length. Tail mostly of eight fea- 

 thers, rarely of ten, twelve or fourteen. Wings moderate, and with the tips 

 pointed. 



FAMILY CAPRIMULGIDM. 



Bill much depressed, feeble ; the horny part decurved, opening wide to beneath or beyond 

 the eyes. Nostrils prominent, tubular, elliptical, emarginate. Ear-openings very large. 

 Head wide, depressed. Feet very small. Tarsus partly feathered, scaly. Toes scutel- 

 late : hind toe versatile, small ; nail of the third toe serrated on its inner margin. Wings 

 very long and acute. Tail long, composed of ten feathers. Plumage soft. Sexes nearly 

 similar. Partly nocturnal and partly diurnal. Allied to the preceding family. 



GENUS CAPRIMULGUS. Linnaeus. 



Gape extending to beneath the posterior portion of the eye. On each side of the base of the 

 bill, a series of feathers with very strong shafts, terminating in filaments with lateral fibres. 

 Second quill longest. Tail long, rounded. 



THE WHIPPOORWILL. 



Caprimulgus vociferus. 



plate xxvii. fig. 59. 



(STATE COLLECTION. Female.) 



Cttprimulgut vodferus. Wilson, Orn. Vol. 5, p. 71, pi. 41, figs. 1, 2, 3. 



C. id., Whippooruill. Audubon, fol. pi. 82 (male and female) ; Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 422, and Vol. 5, p. 406. 



Nuttall, Manual Om. Vol.1, p. 614. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol.2, p. 338. 



Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 1, p. 155, pi. 42 (male and female). 

 Antrottomus id. Bonaparte, Comp. and Geographical List, p. 8. 

 Whxppoorwill. Gibaud, Birds of Long Island, p. 31. 



Characteristics. Tail much rounded, reaching one half beyond the wings. Quills with 

 dark spots. Bristle much longer than the bill. Three outer tail fea- 

 thers white at tips ; in the female, these are rufous. Length 9 inches. 



