CHAP, XVIII.] 
BIRDS. 
319 
Family 72. — STEATOBNlTHIDiE. (1 Genus, 1 Species.) 
General Distribution. 
Neotropical 
Sob-regions, 
Nearctic 
Sub-regions. 
PALjEARCTIC 
Sub— regions. 
Ethiopi vn 
Sub-regions. 
Oriental 
Sub-regions. 
Australian 
Sub-regions. 
— 2 
— 
This family contains a single bird — the Guacharo — forming the 
genus Steatornis, first discovered by Humboldt in a cavern in 
Venezuela, and since found in deep ravines near Bogota, and also 
in Trinidad, Although apparently allied to the Goat-suckers 
it is a vegetable-feeder, and is altogether a very anomalous bird 
whose position in the system is still undetermined. 
Family 73.— CAPRIMULGIDJE. (17 Genera, 91 Species.) 
General Distribution. 
Neotropical 
Sub-regions. 
Ne arctic 
Sub-regions. 
Pal^arctic 
Sub-regions. 
Ethiopian 
Sub-regions. 
Oriental 
Sub-regions. 
Australian 
Sub-regions. 
1 . 2 . 3. 4 
1 . 2 . 3. 4 
1 
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 
1 . 2 . 3.4 
1 . 2 . 3. 4 
1.2 
The Goat-suckers, or Night-jars, are crepuscular insectivorous 
birds, which take their prey on the wing, and are remarkable 
for their soft and beautifully mottled plumage, swift and silent 
flight, and strange cries often imitating the human voice. They 
are universally distributed, except that they do not reach New 
Zealand or the remoter Pacific Islands. The South American 
genus, Nyctibius, differs in structure and habits from the other 
goat-suckers and should perhaps form a distinct family. More 
than half the genera inhabit the Neotropical region. The genera 
are as follows : — 
Nyctibius (6 sp.), Brazil to Guatemala, Jamaica ; Capri- 
mulgus (35 sp.), Palacarctic, Oriental, and Ethiopian regions, with 
the Austro- Malay Islands and North Australia ; Hydropsalis 
(8 sp.), Tropical South America to La Plata ; Antrostomus (10 
