196 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



earth with their slightly curved bills. In the fall they feed much on berries, such 

 as those of the black gum, dogwood, frost grape, etc., while in winter they fairly 

 swarm in the peanut fields. In the fall, when eating gum-berries, they may be seen, 

 two or more at a time in the same tree, bowing and bobbing their heads at one 

 another, frequently doing this so completely in unison that it looks as if they might 

 be worked by machinery. At the same time they utter a series of notes which sug- 

 gest the words whicker-whicker-whicker. 



Although common, the Flicker is quite shy, and seems to know just how far an 

 ordinary gun will carry. This knowledge is good for the bird and for mankind 

 also, as the Flicker does not seem to have any objectionable traits to offset its 

 undeniably good ones. At Cape Hatteras it is known as "Wilcrissen." 



Eggs have been taken at Raleigh and in Bertie and Beaufort counties from April 

 24 to May 15, the sets containing from four to eight. The nesting cavities are 

 dug by the birds themselves in dead trees, or dead limbs of living ones, at heights 

 varying from 12 to 30 feet. Eggs pure white, size about 1.10 x .85. 



XV. ORDER MACROCHIRES. GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, AND 



HUMMINGBIRDS 



KEY TO FAMILIES 



1. Bill long, gape shoit, size small. Trochilidce, Hummingbirds. 



1. Bill short, gape very deep. See 2. 



2. Middle toe longer than side toes, plumage soft, varied; gape with bristles. Caprimulgidos, 



Goatsuckers. 



2. Middle toe scarcely longer than side toes, plumage compact, its color uniform. No bristles 

 at gape. Micropodidce, Swifts. 



38. FAMILY CAPRIMULG1D>E. GOATSUCKERS 



The birds of this family agree in having the plumage soft, and colors varied, 

 the gape very wide and deep, and usually furnished with long bristles. The toes 

 are slightly webbed at base, and the middle claw is pectinate. The species are 

 mainly insectivorous, though some of the larger kinds occasionally eat small birds. 

 They are nocturnal or crepuscular, and in many ways seem related to the owls, 

 with which they have been associated by some ornithologists. Their handsomely 

 marked eggs are deposited on the ground. 



KEY TO GENERA 



1. Bristles at gape very long; tail rounded. Antrostomus. 



1. Bristles at gape inconspicuous; tail emarginate. Chordeiles. 



Genus Antrostomus (Bonap.) 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Bristles at gape with side branches; color redder; size larger, wing over 7.50. Chuck-will's- 



widow. 

 1. Bristles at gape simple; color grayer; size smaller, wing less than 7.00. Whip-poor-will. 



