BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 503 



Genus ANTROSTOMUS Bonaparte. 



Antrostormis Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, 8." (Type, as fixed by 

 Gray, 1840, Caprimulgus carolinensis Gmelin.) 



Medium sized to rather large Caprimulginae (length about 230-380 

 mm.) with tarsus slightly shorter to slightly longer than middle too 

 without claw, the upper two-thirds to three-fourths feathered (except 

 behind) ; longest primaries exceeding distal secondaries by not more 

 titan half the length of wing, the tenth (outermost) much shorter 

 than eighth; tail two-thirds to three-fourths as long as wing, more or 

 less distinctly rounded; cuhnen not arched, the mesorhinium not 

 depressed; nostrils not distinctly tubular (or the tube very short), 

 in anterior end of nasal fossae; primaries spotted with ochraceous- 

 buff or tawny, without white spot on either web. 



BUI moderately broad basaUy, its length from frontal feathering 

 equal to not more than, one and a half times its width at same point; 

 cuhnen not arched but gradually decurved from base, the meso- 

 rhinium not depressed. Nostril not distinctly tubular (or else the 

 tube very short), in anterior end of nasal fossa, opening antero- 

 lateraUy. Rictal bristles conspicuous, reaching to or beyond tip of 

 bill. Wing moderate, the longest primaries exceeding distal secon- 

 daries by not more (usually less) than haK the length of wing; eighth 

 and ninth primaries usually equal and longest (ninth longest in A. 

 carolinensis only), the tenth (outermost) much shorter than eighth 

 (equal to or slightly shorter than seventh, except in A. carolinensis, 

 in which the difference between tenth and eighth is much less than 

 between tenth and seventh); seventh, eighth, and ninth primaries 

 with outer web distinctly sinuated, except in A. carolinensis (in which 

 only the eighth and ninth are sinuated). Tail two-thirds to three- 

 fourths as long as wing, distinctly to rather strongly rounded, the 

 rectrices rather broad and appreciably widening distaUy (except in 

 A. goldmani and A. ridgwayi). Tarsus slightly shorter to slightly 

 longer than middle toe without claw, feathered for about upper two- 

 thirds to three-fourths, except behind; hallux, with claw, slightly to 

 much longer than basal phalanx of middle toe. 



Plwmage and coloration. — No special development of plumage of head 

 nor chest. Primaries spotted (usually on both webs) with ochraceous- 

 buff or tawny, but without any white spot on either web; tail with 

 white (males) or buff (females) on distal portion of three outer pairs 

 of rectrices, at least on inner web; pileum streaked or longitudinally 

 blotched with black, at least medially; a band of white or buffy across 

 lower throat (except in A. saturatus). 



Range. — Eastern temperate North America to Mexico and south- 

 ward to Peru, Brazil, and the Gfiianas. (About fourteen species.) 



o See Stone, Auk, xxiv, 1907, 196, and Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. N. H., xxiv, 1908, 32. 



