60 
Synopsis of the Birds 
Inhabits all North America ; more common in the northern, 
and middle states; in winter also in the southern, Mexico, 
and even Cayenne. 
FAMILY IX. CHELIDONES. 
Hiantes , III. Fissirostres , Cuv. Chelidones , Vieill. Ranz. 
Latirostres, Latr. Order Chelidones, Temm . 
Bill very small, much depressed, very wide at base ; up- 
per mandible incurved, compressed at tip : gape very large. 
Feet very short and slender; tarsi annulated; toes short ; 
nails short, arcuated, more or less slender and acute. Wings 
greatly elongated, very acute. 
Female and young generally differ but little from the 
adult male. Moult annually. 
Feed exclusively on insects, which they swallow flying. 
Migrate to tropical countries in winter. Flight very rapid 
and protracted : hardly walk. Vision acute, diurnal or noc- 
turnal. Voice destitute of harmony or modulation. 
NOCTURNAL. 
Head very large ; eyes and ears very large. Middle toe 
nail pectinated on the inner side. Plumage loose, soft, and 
light. 
13. CAPRIMULGUS. 
Caprimulgus , L. Briss . (hi. Lath. Cuv . III. Temm. Ranz . 
Caprimulgus, Nyctibius, Vieill . 
Bill extremely short, feeble, cleft beyond the eyes ; upper 
mandible almost always surrounded by divergent bristles, 
somewhat hooked at tip ; lower somewhat recurved at tip ; 
margins vertical or turned outwards: nostrils basal, wide, 
partly closed by a feathered membrane, leaving generally a 
tubular opening : tongue very small, cartilaginous, more or 
less acute, narrow, entire. Tarsi partly feathered; fore 
toes connected to the first joint by a small membrane ; 
middle toe generally much longer than the lateral and pos- 
