PASSERINE. 129 



CAPRTMULGUS, Linnaeus*. 



The Goatsuckers have the same light, soft plumage, shaded with grey 

 and brown, that characterises the nocturnal 

 birds. Their eyes are large ; the commissure 

 of the beak extending still higher up than that 

 of the swallow, and furnished with stiff mus- 

 tachios, is capable of engulfing the largest in- 

 sects, which are retained there by a glutinous 

 sali va ; the nostrils, formed like small tubes, are 

 at its base. Their wings are long; their feet 

 short, with feathered tarsi, and their toes united 

 at base by a short membranet. Goatsuckers live solitarily, and never venture 

 abroad, except at twilight, and in the night during fine weather. They hunt 

 Phalange and other nocturnal insects, and lay a small number of eggs on the 

 bare ground, without taking any pains in the construction of a nest. The 

 rushing of the air into their immense mouth, while on the wing, produces a 

 very peculiar humming sound. 



America produces several of these birds with a round or square tail, one of 

 which, C. vociferus (The AVhip-Poor-Will), is celebrated on account of its 

 loud and peculiar cries in the spring of the year. One of them also is found 

 in New Holland, and several are found in Africa, some of which have a 

 pointed tail, and others a forked one, indicating some affinity between this 

 genus and the swallows ; the middle claw of the species with forked tails are 

 without the toothed claws. 



FAMILY III. 



CONIROSTRES. 



THE Conirostres comprehend genera with a strong beak, more or less 

 conical, and unemarginate ; the stronger and thicker 

 their beak, the more exclusively is grain their food. 

 This family is very numerous, and embraces many 

 genera, very different in their habits and conforma- 

 tion, including some of our most common species, and 

 many of the most interesting foreign ones ; such as the 

 Bunting, Bullfinches, Crows, Birds of Paradise, &c. 



The first genus to be distinguished, is 



Caprimulgus, Guatsuchr, JEgothelas, names which derive their origin from the 

 whimsical idea, entertained by the people, of their sucking goats and even cows. 



f The goatsuckers possess a very peculiar pectinated claw on the second toe, as repre- 

 sented in the engraving ; the use of which has puzzled naturalists. 



K 



