SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS xiii 



ORDER PICARI^ 



Opposed to the Passeres. The feet are relatively weaker and smallar. 



FAMILY CYPSELID^ 

 (Swifts) 

 Tail of ten feathers (swallows have twelve). Gape very wide. 



49. Cypselus (Swift). Bill very short, flattened horizontally, triangular j 



upper mandible curved downwards at the point ; gape extending 

 beyond the eyes ; legs very short ; toes aU directed forwards ; 

 wings extremely long ; first primary a little shorter than the second. 



Page 123 



FAMILY CAPRIMULGIDiE 



(Goatsuckers) 



The biU in this family resembles that of the Swallows, but is shorter and 

 weaker ; the gape is enormous and its sides are, for the most part, furnished 

 with long and stiff bristles, which point forwards ; the wings are long, and 

 formed for powerful flight ; the feet are small, and feathered to the toes ; 

 plumage soft and downy, and beautifully mottled with black, brown, grey, 

 and white, varying in colour with the soil of their habitat ; the claw of the 

 middle toe is dilated on one side and toothed like a comb. Tail of ten feathers. 

 Nocturnal birds, feeding on large insects, which they capture in their flight. 



50. Caprimulgus (Goatsucker or Nightjar). Bill very short, somewhat 



curved, broad and flattened at the base ; upper mandible curved 

 downwards at the tip ; gape extending beyond the eyes, and armed 

 with strong bristles ; wings long ; first primary shorter than the 

 second, which is the longest. Page 135 



FAMILY PICIDjE 



(Woodpeckers) 



Feet short, but of unusued strength ; the rigid toes diverge from a centre, 

 two pointing forwards, and two backwards ; claws large, much curved, 

 and very hard and sharp ; breast-bone shallow ; flight weak and undulating. 



SUB-FAMILY PICINM 

 Tail feathers stiff and pointed : nostrils covered with bristles. 



51. Dendrocopds (Spotted Woodpeckers). Bill about as long as the 



head, robust, straight, irregular, compressed, pyramidal, laterjilly 

 bevelled at the tip ; tongue long and extensile, the tip barbed ; 

 HostrUs basal, oval, concealed by reflected bristly feathers ; wings 

 with the first primary very short, fourth and fifth longest ; tail- 

 feathers graduated, stiff and pointed. Fom'th toe much longer 

 than third. Prevailing colours of the plumage black and white, 

 or black and red. Page 127 



52. Gecinus (Green Woodpecker). Bill hard, broad at base, compressed 



at tip ; upper mandible shghtly arched, ending abruptly with 

 shallow groove on each side running parallel to and near the culmen, 

 and longer than lower mandible, which is pointed and has the 

 gonys nearer the tip than the base and the tomia rounded. The 

 fourth toe equal to the third. Prevailing colour greenish, otherwise 

 much as in Dendrocopus. Page 129 



