400 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



AntrostomuB. Gape with bristles ; tarsi moderate, partly feathered ; tail broad, con- 

 siiloniljly nmiKlud ; j)liiiniige soil. 



Nyotidromus. Gaix; with bristles; tarsi lengthened, bare; tail broad, rounded; 

 plumage solt. 



Genus CHORDEILES, Swainson. 



Chordcihs, SWAIXSON, Fauna IJor. Amor. II, 1831, 490. (Type, Caprimulgus virginianua.) 



Gkn. Ciiah. Bill small, the nostrils depressed ; the gape with feeble, inconspicuous 

 bristles. Wings long, luirrow, and pointed; the lirst quill nearly or quite equal to the 

 second. Tail rather narrow, slightly forked; plumag. quite compact. HabiUs diurnal 

 or crepuscular. 



Many species of this genus belong to America, altliough but two that are 

 well characterized enter into the fauna of the United States. These are 

 easily distinguished as follows : — 



Species and Varieties. 

 C. popetue. White patch on primaries extending over the five outer quills, 

 anterior to their middle portion. No rufous spots on (luills, anterior to the 

 white jiatch. 



a. Dark mottling predominating on upjwr parts ; lower tail-coverts dis- 

 tinctly banded. 



Wing, 8.00; tail, 4.40. Hah. Eastern Province of United States 

 and Northwest coast var. popetue. 



Wing, C.90 ; tail, 4.00. More rufous mottling on scapulars and 

 jugulum, and a decided oi^hraccous tinge below. Ifab. West 



^ .I"'^'''« var. ,«,-»or.> 



b. Light mottling predominating on upper parts; lower tail-coverts 

 only very indistinctly and spar.sely banded. 



Size of var. popetue. Hub. Middle Province of United States 

 . var. hen ryi. 



C. acutipennis. White patch on primaries extending over only four outer 

 quills, and beyond their middle portion ; distinct rufous spots on quills, 

 anterior to the white patch. 



Wing, 6.20 to C.oO ; tail, 3.90 to 4.10. Hah. South America. 



var. acutipennis.^ 

 Wing, 7.00 to 7..30; tail, 4.40 to 4.75; Colors not appreciably 

 dilferent. Hah. Middle America, north into southern border of 

 United States v<,v. texensis. 



» Cliordciles popc/nc, var. minor, Cabanis. iViorrkiles minor, Cab. Joum. f. Orii. 1856, p. r, 

 — ScLATEU, Catal. Am. B. 18U2, 279. Oh. (,ii,nl/„chi, Lawu. Ann. X. Y. Lye. VI, 165. ' ' 



" C/wrdcilc.1 acutipciuiis, (Bonn.) Cass. Gaprimtihins acitlipennis, Bodd^ekt, Tab. PI Enl 

 p. 46 (1733). aionkilcs a. Cassin, P. A. N. S. 1851 (Catalogue of Caprimulgidw, in Mus. 

 IhiliiJ. Acad.). Caprimuh/us (u;a,i.<,, (Imki,. C. prmmmis, T.sciiudi. C. exilis. Lesson 

 Chordeile.i lahcculalm, Jaudine. "Caprimulgus semitnrquatus, L., Gm., Pa. Max.- Tschudi. 

 Cliordeiles peruvianus, Peale. Ilab. Soutli America. 



