hH 



CAPRIMULGINiE. 



eighth rather the longest. Tail very short, and even. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, and scaled. 

 Toes rather long, especially the middle toe, with the lateral ones equal ; the hind toe short and slender. 



The typical species was observed running about near pools of water in the interior of South America. 



E. anomalus (Gould), Icones Avium, pi. 



Chordeiles Swains.* 



Bill very small, with the gape very wide and furnished with a few very short hairs ; the culmen 

 arched, and the sides compressed to the tip, which is hooked and emarginated ; the nostrils lateral, 

 tubular, with the opening rounded and exposed. Wings lengthened and pointed, with the second quill 

 the longest. Tail long, broad, and emarginated, or rounded. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, and 

 partly covered with plumes. Toes rather long ; with the lateral toes equal ; the hind toe short, slender, 

 and armed with a short claw. 



These species inhabit both North and South America, and are dispersed generally over the country from the sea- 

 coast to the mountains in the neighbourhood ; and in the vicinity of extensive salt marshes they are likewise very 

 numerous, skimming over the meadows in the manner of swallows. The favourite time of activity is from about two 

 hours before sunset until dusk. At this time they seem all vivacity, darting about in the air in every direction, making 

 frequent, short, sudden turnings, as if busily engaged in catching insects. At other times one of these birds is seen to 

 mount high in the air by alternate quick and leisurely motions of the wings, playing about as he ascends, uttering 

 usually a hoarse squeak, till, in a few minutes, he again dives with the same impetuosity and violent sound as before. 

 After they have paired, the male and female confine themselves to a particular spot, but each still roosts during the 

 day on separate trees. The eggs are commonly two in number, and they arc deposited on the bare ground. 



1. C. virginiunus (Briss.) Swains. Edwards's Birds, pi. 63. — 

 Caprimulgus americanus Wils. Arner. Orn. pi. 40. ; C. popetue 

 Vieill. Ois. d'Amer. Sept. t. 24., Audub. B. of Araer. pi. 

 147. 



2. O. americanus (Linn.) Sloan. Jamaica, t. 255. f. 1. 



3. C. acutipennis (Bodd.) PI. enl. 732. — Caprimulgus acutus 

 Gmel. 



4. C. labeculatus Jard. Ann. Nat. Hist. 1846. p. 119- 



5. C. rupestris (Spix), Av. Bras. t. 2. 



6. C. ? rufus (Gmel.) PI. enl. 735. 



Eurostopodus Goidd.-f 



Bill short, with the gape very wide and furnished with short weak hairs ; the culmen curved, and 

 the sides compressed to the tip, which is hooked ; the nostrils lateral and tubular, with the opening 

 linear, and partly concealed by the frontal plumes. Wings very long, and pointed, with the second 

 quill the longest. Tail long, broad, and rounded at the end. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, and 

 covered anteriorly for nearly their whole length with plumes. Toes short and thick ; with the lateral 



* Mr. Swainson established this genus in 1831 (Fauna Boreali- Americana p. 496.). 



I Mr. Gould established this genus in 1837 (Proc. Zool. Soc. p. 142.). It embraces Lyncornis of the same author (1838). 



