ORDER XVI. GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, AND HUMMING- 
BIRDS. 
MACROCHIRES. 
Family 1. GOATSUCKERS. CaprRIMULGID®. | 6 species, 6 sub- 
species. 
Family 2. SWIFTS. Microropip#, 4 species. 
Family 3. HUMMINGBIRDS, Trocuirips. 17 species. 
_ The Goatsuckers are birds of the dusk and early morning. They 
live chiefly on insects which they capture on the wing, their enormous 
mouths being especially well adapted to this kind of hunting... Our 
species build no nest but lay their two mottled eggs on the bare ground 
or leaves. The young are hatched covered with down and can follow 
their parents about long before they acquire the power of flight. ’ Goat- 
suckers are noted for their singular calls, most of the species uttering” 
loud, characteristic notes which, heard at night, are especially effective. 
Swifts are birds-of world-wide distribution; about half the seventy- 
five known species being found in America. They are pre-eminently 
birds of the air with wings so well developed that few birds can sur- 
pass them.in power of flight, but with feet so weak, and small that 
many species cannot perch as do most birds, but, when-resting, cling to 
a vertical surface and-use their tail to aid their feet in supporting 
themselves. Their nests are often marvels of architectural skill and 
constructive ability. The eggs, four to six in number, are white. 
Hummingbirds are found only in America where they range from 
Patagonia to Alaska, but the larger part of the some five) hundred 
known species are found in the Andean region of Columbia and_Ecua- 
dor. Only one’ species is found east of the Mississippi, and: ‘nine 
of our sixteen western species advance but little beyond our Mexican 
border. 
Hummingbirds nests ‘are the most exquisite of birds’»homes. 
Their eggs, so far as is known, number two, and are pure white... The 
young are born naked and, in the case of our Ruby-throat, at least, 
spend about three weeks in the nest. 
The notes of some tropical Hummingbirds are sufficiently varied to 
be classed as songs but our species utter only sharp squeaks and ex- 
cited chipperings. 
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