BJRDS CAPEIMULGIDAE — ANTEOSTOMUS CAEOLINENSIS. 



147 



Comparative measurements of species. 



ANTROSTOMUS CAEOLINENSIS. 



Biog. I, 1832, 273; pi. Ill, & V, 1839, 

 Sc. II, 1852, 119.— Ib. Illost. N. Am. 



Chuck-will's Widow. 



Capnmulgus carolinensis, Gmeliit, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 1028 — Aud. Orn. 



401.— Ib. Birds Amer. I, 1840, 151 ; pi. 41. 

 .Sntrostomus carolinensis, Gottld, Icones Avium, 1838.' — Cassin, J. A. N. 



Birds, I, 1855, 236. 

 CapHmulgus rvfits, Vieillot, Ols. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 57 ; pi. xxv, (Q.) 

 Caprimiilgus brachypterus, Stephens, Shaw's Zoo! . X, i, 1825.' 150. 

 Short-winged goatsucker, Pennant, Arctic Zool. II, 1785, 434. 



Sp. Ch. — Bristles of the bill with lateral filaments. Wing nearly nine inches long. Top of the head reddish brown, longi- 

 tudinally streaked with black. The prevailing shade above and below pale rufous. Terminal two-thirds of the tail feathers 

 (except the four central,) rufous white ; outer webs of all mottled, however, nearly to the tips. Female without the white patch 

 on the tail. Length, 12 inches ; wing, 8.50. 



Hab. — South Atlantic and Gulf States. 



This is the largest of the North American species, and is distinguished from the others 

 hy having very strong bristles along the base of the bill, each with lateral filaments. The 

 tail is but slightly rounded ; the exterior feathers only about a quarter of an inch shorter 

 than the middle ones. The wing is long ; the second quill longest. The tip of the third 

 nearly intermediate between the first and second. 



This species is said by Audubon to occur in Texas, but no specimens have been collected west 

 of the Missouri by any of the expeditions. 



List of specimens. 



