Part 63

The characters here given differ so essentially from those of any other species of Antrostomus, that we much suspect that the bird alluded to neither belongs to this genus, nor is an American species.

4. Caprimulgus europæus. Linn.

This name occurs in several of the older authors on American Natural History, which is to be attributed to the fact that the Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) was regarded by Linnæus as a variety only of the European Goatsucker. President Jefferson, in Notes on the State of Virginia, p. 117 (London edition, 1787), gives both of the then known North American birds of this group as two varieties only of the European bird. Professor Barton, in Fragments of the Natural History of Pennsylvania, p. 14, under the head of Caprimulgus europæus, says: “This, or a variety of it, is certainly a native of Pennsylvania. So that now all the fifteen species of this genus (mentioned by Gmelin) are known to be natives of America.” Both of these distinguished and venerated fathers of American zoological science adopted the opinion of Linnæus, and the name of the European bird is given also on the same authority by some others of the earlier American writers.

The European Goatsucker has never been observed on the continent of America.

Professor Barton’s observation above quoted is singularly suggestive. Linnæus, at the date of his last edition of the Systema Naturæ, knew two species only of the genus Caprimulgus. Gmelin, in the edition of the same work, edited by him, and published in 1788, extended the list to fifteen species, and was, when Professor Barton wrote, in 1799, recent and high authority. So greatly has the knowledge of species of birds been extended, that at this time (1855) there are at least ninety known birds of the family Caprimulgidæ, all of which would have been regarded by Linnæus and Gmelin as belonging to the genus Caprimulgus. There are seventy-four species of this family in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy. Though, as Professor Barton observes, all of those known to Gmelin (except Caprimulgus europæus), are American, others are now ascertained to inhabit all the temperate and tropical regions of both of the great divisions of the globe, and the whole of Australia.

Of this family of birds, the only species that have been ascertained or supposed by naturalists to inhabit that part of North America within our limits, are given in the preceding pages. The group is, however, represented in South America not only by other species of the genera above given, but by various other genera and species, amongst which are some curious and interesting forms. The genus Steatornis, containing a single species, first brought to notice by the celebrated Humboldt (Steatornis caripensis, Humboldt), is remarkable for its near approach to the Owls, and would, to a casual observer, scarcely be regarded as belonging to any other than that family. The genus Nyctibius, which is also South American, contains some species as large as the Crow of the United States, and which are amongst the largest birds of this group. Another genus, Hydropsalis, or the Scissors-tailed Goatsuckers, as they are termed by Azara (an enthusiastic and accurate Spanish writer on South American Natural History), are remarkable for having tails of singular forms, and of great length in some species. Hydropsalis torquatus has the two outermost feathers of its tail long, and the two middle feathers also long, leaving the intermediate comparatively short. Hydropsalis lyra, Bonaparte, has the outermost feathers of the tail very long, and curved inwards at their ends. Two species, first described by us, Hydropsalis limbatus and segmentatus (in Proc. Acad., Philadelphia), have that appendage several times the length of their bodies.

About thirty-five species of Caprimulgidæ inhabit South and Central America and Mexico. The largest birds of this group are natives of Australia.

We are inclined to the opinion that this family (and the Swallows also) properly belong to the circle of rapacious birds in which they have been arranged by Prof. Reichenbach, in Avium Systema Naturale (Dresden and Leipsic, 1850).

II. FAMILY HIRUNDINIDÆ. THE SWALLOWS.

Plumage compact; size generally small; bill small, much depressed, very wide at base, and suddenly compressed to the tip, giving it a somewhat triangular shape; wings long; tail various, frequently forked; legs and feet short and weak.

These birds form a peculiar and easily-recognized family, species of which inhabit all parts of the world, and in civilized countries are generally regarded with favor. The Swallows are eminently social and gregarious, being almost constantly seen in companies even in the breeding season, and are amongst the comparatively few birds whose numbers are not diminished by the progress of the settlement and cultivation of countries. They subsist exclusively on insects captured on the wing, in the pursuit of which they exhibit extraordinary powers of flight.

1. Genus Hirundo. Linn., Syst. Nat. I. p. 343. (1766.)

Bill depressed, wide at base, compressed to the end, nostrils basal; wing long, pointed, first primary usually longest, secondaries short; legs and feet short and weak; tail moderate, forked or emarginate. General form rather broad, robust; flight protracted, rapid.

1. Sub-genus Hirundo.

Tail with the two external feathers disproportionately long; others graduated.

1. Hirundo rufa. Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. p. 1018. (1788.) The Barn Swallow. Hirundo horreorum. Barton, Frag. Nat. Hist. of Penna. p. 17. (1799.) Hirundo americana. Wilson, Am. Orn. V. p. 34. (1812.) Hirundo erythrogaster. Boddaert, Tab. Pl. Enl. p. 45. (1783.)? Hirundo cyanopyrrha. Vieill., Nouv. Dict. XIV. p. 510. (1817.) “Hirundo rustica. Linn.” Aud. Orn. Biog. II. p. 413.

Wilson, Am. Orn. V. pl. 38, fig. 1, 2; Aud., B. of Am. pl. 173, Oct. ed. I. pl. 48; Nat. Hist. N. Y. Birds, pl. 29, fig. 64; Buff., Pl. Enl. 724, fig. 1?

Wings long; tail deeply forked with the two outer feathers much the longest; forehead, throat, and neck in front, chestnut, which color is separated from the paler color of the breast by a partial or rarely perfect collar of dark steel blue; entire upper parts steel blue, with a purple lustre, inclining to green on the wings and tail; breast, abdomen, and under tail coverts, chestnut, very pale in some specimens, but generally darker on the tail coverts; tail with a large spot of white on the inner web of every feather, except the middle two; bill and feet black; sexes very nearly alike.

Dimensions. Total length, 7 inches; wing, 4½; tail, 3½. Female smaller.

Hab. Throughout North America. Canada (Dr. Hall); Oregon (Dr. Townsend); Texas (Dr. Woodhouse); Santa Fé (Col. McCall); Indiana (Dr. Haymond); Long Island (Mr. Giraud); Cuba (Mr. Lembeye).

This is one of the most abundant of the birds of the United States, and known to all classes and ages of the population. It is nearly related to the European House Swallow (Hirundo rustica), but can readily be distinguished on comparison. The European is rather the larger, the under-parts are darker, and the collar on the neck in front complete. In the present bird this collar is imperfect, with very rare exceptions.

2. Sub-genus Petrochelidon.

Tail moderate or short, emarginate, but slightly forked.

2. Hirundo lunifrons. Say., Long’s Exp. to the Rocky Mts. II. p. 47. (1823.) The Cliff Swallow. Hirundo opifex. Clinton, Ann. N. Y. Lyceum I. p. 161. (1824.) Hirundo respublicana. Aud., Ann. N. Y. Lyc., I. p. 164. (1824.) “Hirundo fulva. Vieill.” Aud., Orn. Biog. V. p. 415, and Clinton, as above.

Bonap., Am. Orn., 1. pl. 7, fig. 1; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 68, Oct. ed. I. pl. 47; Nat. Hist. N. Y. Birds, pl. 30, fig. 64.

Bill very wide at base, short; wings long; tail rather short, emarginate; forehead white, nearly pure in some specimens, but generally tinged with reddish chestnut; head above and back bluish-black, with a purple lustre; plumage of the back usually edged and streaked with grayish white; rump pale chestnut; throat dark brownish chestnut, which color extends upwards and forms a complete collar around the neck behind; lores and large spot on the neck in front black; entire other under-parts ashy-white, tinged with pale chestnut, especially on the breast; under tail coverts with a green lustre, and tipped with pure white; wings and tail brownish-black; bill and feet dark; sexes very nearly alike.

Dimensions. Total length, 5½ inches; wing, 4⅜; tail, 2 inches. Female rather smaller.

Hab. Throughout North America. Oregon (Dr. Townsend); California (Dr. Heermann); New Mexico (Col. McCall); Texas (Dr. Woodhouse); Indiana (Rufus Haymond, M. D.); Canada (Dr. Hall).