OIL-BIRD. 



385 



of placing the podnrgi in a family separate from that of the goat-suckers, since with 

 that exception they are very closely approached by the South American Nyctibius, 

 which has the palate of a goat-sucker, but in other peculiarities in common with the 

 former, and to be mentioned farther on, disagree with the latter. 



The peculiarities of the pterylosis of the present super-family have been indicated 

 and illustrated on a previous page (page 370, fig. 173); hence we only remark that the 

 first three families have only ten tail-feathers, while the last two possess twelve. 



pmx 



Ill Cjl 



FiG. 186. A, Palate of oil-bird (Sfeatornix); B, Palate of goat-sucker (Caprimulgus) ; C, Palate of Podargus ; 

 Ht.'-ji, niaxillo-pulatiues ; j)l, palatines ; pt, pterygouls ; vo, voiner. 



As already intimated, the STEATORXITIIID.E, which consists only of a single species, 

 the remarkable oil-bird, is possessed of a certain number of structural features which seem 

 to connect this bird with the owls, on one hand, though, on the other, many are so pecu- 

 liar as to make it somewhat doubtful if Professor Garrod was 

 not right in claiming for it a more independent position. The 

 sternum has only two notches behind ; the femoro-caudal is 

 absent ; the second pectoral muscle is small ; the syrinx is 

 truly bronchial, as depicted in the accompanying figure ; 

 the oil gland is very large ; and the contour feathers are de- 

 prived of an after-shaft. Their bill is also entirely different 

 from that of the other caprimulgoid birds, being much stronger, 

 more owl-like, and with a narrower gape. The color of the 

 plumage, a sombre bi'ownish, dotted with white, and blended 

 with dusky markings, reminds one equally of the goat-suckers 

 and the owls, indicating a bird of nocturnal habits. Alto- 

 gether it is a bird of a most singular aspect. 



The oil-bird (Steatornis steatornifi)^ also called by its 

 South American name Guacharo, was originally discovered 

 in 1799 by the celebrated Alexander Humboldt in the caverns 

 near the mission of Carip6 (hence it is often called S. caripensis), Venezuela. Since 

 then it has been found in several localities in northern South America, lately also in 

 certain districts of Peru, and for some time it has been known to occur in the Island of 

 Trinidad, the fauna of which strictly resembles that of the adjacent mainland, but not 



VOL. IV. 25 



FiG. 187. Syrinx of Steator- 

 nis, front view. 



