Passeres. BIRDS. C.vprimulgid.’e. 
Tribe I.— FISSIROSTRES. 
The tribe of the Fissirostral birds, with which we 
commence the long series of Passeres, is distinguished, 
as already stated, by the great extent of the gape, 
which, in the most typical or characteristic forms, 
reaches as far back as tbe hinder margin of the eye. 
The birds thus characterized constituted the whole of 
the group as established by Cuvier ; but most modern 
ornithologists are agreed in referring to the same 
position in the system several families which, in the 
classification of Cuvier, occupied a very diflerent 
place. Nevertheless, the distinction between these 
birds is so well marked, that we may regard this tribe 
as consisting of a typical and an aberrant group of 
families, rather than of a nocturnal and a diurnal one, 
as is usually done ; for the nocturnal forms — the Goat- 
stickers — are very nearly allied to the Swifts and 
Swallows, and form with them a perfectly natural group; 
whilst the remaining families are almost equally closely 
related to each other in their general conformation. 
The typical tamilies correspond with the order Cheli- 
dones of Vieillot and Temminck. 
Family I.— CAPRIMULGIDiE. 
The Caprimnlgidre, or Goatsuckers, are distinguished 
by the intensity with which they exhibit the fissirostral 
characters : the bill is very short and much depressed, 
and the gape uncommonl}^ wide, extending quite 
beneath the eyes. The upper margins of the gape are 
Head of Goatsucker (Caprimulgus europ^us). 
generally bordered by very long stiff bristles, which in 
some species betray their analogy with feathers by 
bearing a few barbs upon their sides. The legs and tarsi 
of these birds are rather short, but the anterior toes are 
long and stout ; and the hinder toe, which is shorter, 
is turned somewhat forward, and slightly united at the 
base to the inner anterior toe. The wings are usually 
long, and rather pointed, but far inferior in both these 
respects to those of the other families of tyjiical 
Fissirostres, which scarcely yield to any other birds in 
length and power of wing. A further distinction of the 
Goatsuckers consists in their adaptation to a nocturnal 
mode ot life, in which they resemble the Owls, with 
which we concluded the preceding order. Like all 
nocturnal birds, they have a soft plumage, which 
enables them to ily noiselessly through the air ; and 
large eyes, adapted for the perception of objects in 
the dim twilight. They are insectivorous birds, feeding 
principally upon the moths and beetles which fly 
at night. These they capture on the wing, and 
the long spreading bristles with which the mouth is 
fringed arc of the' greatest service to them in capturing 
this active kind of prey. 
THE COMMON GOATSUCKER ( Cuprirmdrjus curopccm), 
— Plate 6, fig. 17, and woodcuts 103 and 104 — may be 
first referred to, as it is almost the sole representative 
of the family in Europe, and is not an uncommon bird 
in this country. It is, however, a bird of passage, 
retiring to the warm regions of the South, from the 
colder and temperate countries of Europe and Northern 
Asia, in the autumn, before the inclemency of winter 
has destroyed its insect food; and returning again to its 
summer quarters in the month of May, when the mild 
weather of spring has begun to vivify the insect world. 
The Common Goatsucker measures about ten or 
eleven inches in length, including the tail, which is 
rather long. The plumage is dusky in its general tint, 
pre.senting when closely examined a mixture of grey, 
red, and brown ; but the whole of the upper parts are 
streaked and spotted with blackish-brown, and the tints 
of the lower surface are arranged so as to form a series 
of alternately dark and light undtilated bars. The eye.s 
are dark, and very beautiful. In common with nume- 
rous allied species of the family, the Goatsucker has a 
very short and weak bill, and tiie feet also short and 
weak, so that it appears to have some difiiculty in 
perching in the ordinary manner of the passerine birds ; 
but when resting on the branch of a tree, places 
itself in the direction of the length of the latter, 
and crouches down closely 
upon it, as if fearful of 
falling off. The middle anterior 
toe is considerably longer than 
the lateral ones, and terminated 
by a long claw, which is singu- 
larly pectinated (fig. 104), or 
toothed like a comb along its 
inner edge. The number of 
teeth or serrations in a perfect 
claw are about ten, but the tip 
generally appears to be worn 
away, and thus the number is 
reduced to six or seven. The 
use of this pectinated claw has 
long been a puzzle to naturalists, 
and we can hardly say that its 
object has yet been thoroughly 
of Selborne, in one of his charming letters, writes 
as follows regarding an observation which he made 
upon one of these birds “ as it was playing round a 
large oak that swarmed with Scarabcd solstitmlcs, 
Fig. 103. 
Fig, 104. 
ascertained. White 
