Synopsis of Okjjkks and Famii,ies. 



Okder XVI. Goatsuckers, SwlI^Ts, and Hummingbirds. 

 MACROCHIRES. 

 (3 families, 27 species, 6 subspecies.) 

 Bill, in the Goatsuckers and Swifts, small; iriouth large; in the Hum- 

 mingbirds, bill long, slender, needle-like; wings and tail variable; feet, 

 in all three groups, small and weak. Color, in Goatsuckers, mixed 

 brown, buff and black; in Swifts, black and white; in Hummingbirds, 

 usually shining green above with resplendent throat-patches of varied 

 hues. 



whif-poOrWiLL. 



Family 44. GOATSUCKERS. tTC. Caprimulgid/K. 



Feet usually small and weak: toes, three in front, one belimd; middle toe-nail pectin* 

 ate or combed; bill smalh mouth very large and usually beset by long bristles. 



CHIMNEY SWIFT, 



Family 45, SWIFTS. MICROPODID^. 



Bill small, triangular when seen from above; mouth lar^e, no bristles; tail variable, 

 in ChMura with projecting spinss; wings long and narrpw; feet small and toes short; 

 plumage usually dark. 



RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. 



Family 46. HUMMINGBIRDS. Trochilid/e. 



Bill long and slender; feet slender; wings large and pointed; tail exceedingly variable, 

 often assuming the most striking shapes. 



33 



