COMPENDIUM OF GENEKIC DISTINCTIONS. 



767 



long, plumed to base of toes. Toes long and scaled. 

 Habitat Most parts of the World. 



Genus. BUBO. Bill moderate. Wings rather long, 

 second, third, and fourth quills longest. Tail moderate, 

 rounded. Tarsi and toes shortish, thickly plumed. Hind 

 toe short. Habitat Most parts of world, 



Sub-family. Surninae, Head with two small tufts; 

 facial disc complete. 



Genus. NTCTALE. Bill small ; nostrils small and trans- 

 verse ; cere somewhat swollen. Wings moderate, rounded, 

 third and fourth quills longest. Tail long and rounded. 

 Tarsi short, clothed with hairy feathers. Habitat Europe 

 and North America. 



Genus. SURNIUM. Bill as usual. Wings long and 

 rounded, fourth and fifth quills longest. Tail long and 

 rounded. Tarsi and toes rather short, and densely plumed. 

 Habitat Many parts of the world. 



Genus. OTUS. Bill as usual. Wings very long, second 

 and third quills longest. Tail moderate. Tarsi long and 

 plumed. Toes moderate, plumed. Habitat Most parts of 

 both hemispheres. 



Suo-family. Striginse. Head without tufts ; facial disc 

 complete. 



Genus. STRIX. Bill long ; nostrils large, partially covered 

 by membrane. Wings very long, second quill longest. 

 Tail short. Tarsi rather long, slender, and softly plumed. 

 Toes long, haired ; outer toe much shorter than inner, hind 

 toe short and thick. Habitat Throughout world. 



Order. PASSERES, or PERCHERS. Toes usually three 

 in front, one behind ; sometimes outer toe can" be carried 

 backward. 



Tribe. FISSIROSTRES. Billvery wide. Gape beneath 

 eyes. Keel curved to tip. Feet weak. 



Sub-tribe. Fissirostres nocturnse. Eyes very large. 

 Plumage very soft. 



Family. CAPKIMTJLGIDJE. Bill short, flat, and broad. 

 Tarsi short. Toes long and powerful, hind toe joined to 

 inner at base . 



Sub-family. Steatominae. Bill, tip hooked, base of bill 

 with feathers and bristles. 



Genus. STEATORNIS. Bill long as head and elevated, 

 much curved and rounded, edges nearly straight and toothed 

 near tip, nostrils large and oblong. Wings long and pointed, 

 third and fourth quills longest and equal. Tail broad, long 

 and graduated. Tarsi with a few hairs. Outer toe larger 

 than inner. Habitat Guadaloupe, Trinidad, and Bogota. 



Genus. PODARGUS. Bill, sides suddenly compressed near 

 sharp tip, edge of the upper mandible overlapping the lower, 

 which curves down at tip ; nostrils covered with mem- 

 branous scales, and narrow base of bill covered with bristles. 

 Wings long and pointed, second and third quills longest. 

 Tail long. Tarsi short, with broad scales. Toes with strong 

 scales above. Habitat Australia and New Guinea. 



Genus. BATRACHOSTOMUS. Wings long and rounded, 

 sixth quill longest. Toes short. Rest like the preceding 

 genus. Habitat Indian Archipelago. 



Genus. ^GOTHELES. Bill small and very flat, tip hooked 

 and blunt ; nostrils narrower behind, base of bill hidden by 

 plumage and bristles. Wings rounded, third and fourth 

 quills longest. Tarsi rather long and slender, scaled. Hind 

 toe long, outer larger than inner. Habitat Australia. 



Sub-family. Caprimulginae. Bill short and weak, very 

 broad, and with bristles at base. Wings long. Tail rather 

 long. Tarsi short, scaled or plumed. Middle toe longest, its 

 claw long and toothed like comb. 



Genus. CAPRIMULGUS. Bill very short, very wide ; nos- 

 trils at sides and tubular, opening partly exposed. Wings 

 long and pointed, second quill longest. Tail long, broad, 

 sometimes rounded, sometimes forked. Tarsi plumed. 

 Hind toe very short. Habitat Most parts of world. 



Genus. CHORDEILES. Bill very small, a few very short 

 hairs at base, nostrils tubular, opening rounded. Wings 

 long aud pointed, second quill longest. Tail long and 



broad, rounded or forked. Tarsi short and partly plumed. 

 Hind toe short and slender. Habitat America. 



Sub-family. Podagerinae. Bill very flat, keel compressed 

 on sides to hooked tip. Wings long and pointed. Tail long 

 and broad. Tarsi usually plumed or with transverse scales 

 in front. Inner toe mostly longer than outer, and both 

 joined to middle toe, which is the longest, and furnished with 

 a long toothed claw. 



Genus. SCOTORNTS. Bill with strong bristles, nostrils 

 with membranous scales over opening. Wings long and 

 pointed, second and third quill longest. Tail extremely long 

 and graduated. Tarsi plumed and scaled. Toes unequal, 

 inner longer than outer. Habitat Africa. 



Genus. MACRODIPTERTX. Bill with very long bristles. 

 Wings very long and pointed, second or third quill longest, 

 and inner quill extremely lengthened, shaft bare, webbed at 

 tip. Tail long. Tarsi plumed and scaled. Two exterior 

 toes nearly equal. Habitat Africa. 



Genus. PODAGER. Nostrils partly covered by plumes. 

 Wings very long, first quill longest. Tail short. Tarsi 

 very short and plumed. Inner toe longer than outer. 

 Habitat South America. 



Sub-tribe. Fissirostres dim-nee Eyes moderate, 

 plumage close. 



Family. HIKUNDINIDJE. Bill short and weak, very 

 broad at base, suddenly compressed to tip. Wings long, 

 sharp, and narrow. Tail forked. Tarsi weak. 



Sub-family. Cypselinae. Wings very long and curved 

 like scimetars. Toes short, strong, hinder toe generally 

 directed forwards ; claws curved and sharp. 



Genus. ACANTHYLIS. Nostrils in membranous groove 

 Wings long, first quill longest. Tail with shafts projecting. 

 Tarsi short and naked. Toes compressed. Habitat 

 America, India, and Australia. 



Genus. MACROPTERYX. Wings long, first and second 

 quills longest. Tail very long and deeply forked. Tarsi 

 naked. Habitat India, East India Islands, and Africa. 



Genus. CYPSELUS. Bill with sides gradually compressed 

 to the tip ; nostrils with little feathers round opening. 

 Wings, second quill longest. Tail mostly forked. Tarsi 

 very short, plumed to toes. Toes all directed forward. 

 Habitat Warm and temperate parts of world. 



Genus. COLLOCALIA. Bill very small, nostrils in mem- 

 branous groove. Wings, second quill longest. Tail mode- 

 rate. Tarsi slender and naked. Toes short and thick. 

 Habitat Indian Archipelago. 



Sub -family. HirandiTrinse. Bill short, sides gradually 

 compressed to tip ; nostrils at base of bill and rounded. 

 Wings long, first quill longest. Tail forked. Tarsi mostly 

 scaled. Toes mostly long and slender, claws moderate. 



Genus. ATTICORA. Bill, keel curved to tip. Tail very 

 long and deeply forked. Tarsi short and scaled. Exterior 

 toes unequal. Habitat South America, New Guinea, 

 Africa, and Australia. 



Genus. HIRUNDO. Nostrils partly covered by mem- 

 brane. Tail, exterior feathers sometimes much lengthened. 

 Habitat Most parts of world. 



Genus. PROGNE. Bill strong, edges curved to tip. Tail 

 moderate. Tarsi short, strong, and scaled. Exterior toes 

 equal. Habitat New World. 



Genus. COTYLE. Bill very flat, nostrils prominent. Tail 

 moderate, slightly forked. Tarsi scaled and slender. Toes 

 short and slender, exterior unequal. Habitat Old and 

 New Worlds. 



Genus. CHELIDON. Bill short and strong. Tail mode- 

 rate. Tarsi rather long and plumed. Toes also plumed, 

 exterior unequal. Habitat Old World. 



Family. CORACIAD.ZE. Bill long, broad At base, tip 

 hooked ; nostrils at base. Wings long and pointed. Tail 

 mostly short and even. Tarsi short. Toes moderate. 



Sub-family. Coracianae. Bill rather high, tip overhang- 

 ing lower mandible ; nostrils narrow and oblique. Wings 

 and tail moderately long. Tarsi sr.ort. Toes moderate and 

 free. 



