OF ORNITHOLOGY 75 



are as near representing the typical species as can be well 

 given in a short space, and will be found correct in the main,. 

 The species are almost nocturnal, preferring twilight to either- 

 day or night. Owing to the elasticity and lightness of their 

 plumage their flight is swift and almost noiseless. 



There are two sub-families, both well denned and valid, but 

 only one of them belongs to our fauna, and thus the charac- 

 ters of the family answer equally well for us here. The gen- 

 era are as follows : 



Genera, Nyctidromus, The Parauque Goatsucker. 

 Phalcenoptilus, Nuttall's Poor-will. 

 Antrostomus, The True Whippoorwills (3 species). 

 Chordeiles, The Nighthawks (4 species). 



Sub-genus, Caprimulgus of Antrostomus. 



Some writers make these both separate genera, but the species are so very 

 similar that whichever one finally stands for the germs the other can only 

 take si(6-generic rank. 



FAMILY XXI CYPSELIDAE THE SWIFTS 



Probably from the Greek kupsele, "a species of swallow." 

 The Swifts, at least some of them, were formerly regarded 

 as true Swallows and included iu the genus Hirundo, but that 

 was years ago ; to-day we see the difference, and a vast differ- 

 ence it is. The well-known Chimney Swift, or Swallow as it 

 is often called, is typical of the family. So well known is this 

 species that very little need be said in general regarding the 

 members of the family. The group is akin to the one which 

 precedes it, and can be placed naturally next to it. The bill 

 is very small indeed and strongly resembles that of the Wliip- 

 poorwills in miniature with a correspondingly large gape ; but 

 while there is an apparent notch at the end of the bill in the 

 former, however, there is none in the Swifts and the bristles 

 also are wanting ; the nostrils also are exposed and barely 

 reached by the feathers at the base of the bill, they are elon- 

 gated not round ; feet small and weak and skinny, toes nearly 

 equal and without basal membranes — the hind toe more or 

 less abnormal and versatile ; wings of ten feathers, long, nar- 



