132 



b. Bill tenuirostral, very slender, longer than head ; 6 short secondaries, (Hum- 

 ming-birds.) ........ Trochilidce, XXII. 



bb. Bill with gape deep and wide, much shorter than head ; secondaries more 

 than 6. 

 c. Rictal bristles present; plumage lax and variegated; length 8 or more. 

 (Whippoorwills, nighthawks.) .... Capri?>iulgida, XX. 



cc. No rictal bristles ; plumage compact, of blended colors ; tail feathers 

 spinous ; length 6 inches or less. (Chimney Swifts.) Cypselida, XXI. 



FAMILY XX. CAPRIMULGID^. 



{The Goat Suckers.) 



In these birds the bill is very short, the gape exceedingly deep and wide (" fissi- 

 rastral"), reaching to below the eyes, and usually with prominent rictal bristles; 

 wings long and pointed ; plumage long and loose, oval-like ; feet small and weak ; 

 tarsus short, partly feathered ; toes somewhat webbed ; hind toe slightly elevated ; 

 chiefly insectivorous, widely diffused ; lOO or more species. They lay two length- 

 ened, dark-colored, thickly spotted eggs on or near the ground, in stumps, etc. 

 The feet are so short the birds do not perch in the usual way, but sit lengthwise of 

 the branch or crouch on the ground. Sexes colored nearly alike; voice peculiar. 



ANTROSTOMUS. Gould. Whippoorwills. 



139. A. VOCIFERUS. Bon. Nightjar. Grayish; much variegated; pectoral 

 bar and ends of outer tail feathers white in male, tawny in female ; tail rounded 

 and rictal bristles very long, which readily separates them from night hawks, in 

 which the tail is forked and the rictal bristles inconspicuous. Common summer 

 resident throughout the State. Its "solemn and prophetic" cry is well known; the 

 bird is not often seen. 



CHORDEILES. Swainson. Night Hawks. 



140. C. VIRGINIANUS. Bon. Bull Bat. Blackish, variegated; a large 

 wing spot, bar across tail and V-shaped blotch on- throat — white in male, tawny or 

 obscure in female. Abundant through temperate North America, flying at all 

 times, though most active toward evening and in cloudy weather ; they forage in 

 companies for insects with rapid, easy flight ; in the breeding season they fall 

 through the air with a loud, booming cry. 



FAMILY XXL CYPSELID^. 



[The Swifts.) 



Bill fissiostral ; wings long, thin and pointed ; secondaries short ; no rictal bris- 

 tles ; tail feathers 10 ; plumage compact. In most the salivary glands are highly 



