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Show 124 MR. SCLATER ON THE AMERICAN CAPRIMULGIDcE. [Feb. 27, as regards the number of the phalanges of the digits in the class of Birds-the fourth or outer toe having only four phalanges, like the third or middle one. This peculiarity is accompanied by the presence of the well-known pectination of the inner edge of the claw of the long middle toe. This structure of the feet is met with in all the typical Caprimulgidar-that is, in all the forms allied to our common Caprimulgus europarus. (See figs. 1, 2.) Fig. 2. Fig. 1. Fig. 1. Left foot of Antrostomus vociferus. 2. Left foot of Nyctidromus albicollis. In the second division, containing the genera Steatornis and Nyc-tibius of the N e w World and Podargus, Batrachostomus, and A^go-theles of the Old World, the pectination of the medial claw is wanting, and the outer digit has the normal number of five phalanges. (See figs. 3, 4, and 5.) A second part of the skeleton of the Caprimulgidar, which presents us with some very important characters, is the sternum. The great differences between the sterna of Caprimulgus and Podargus have been well pointed out by M . Blanchard*, and may be seen at a glance on reference to the two sterna of Caprimulgus stictomus, Swinhoe, and Podargus plumiferus, Gould, which I now exhibit. (See figs. 6 and 8.) They are such as scarcely occur in any other natural family of birds, and may probably ultimately necessitate the separation of the forms allied to Podargus into a distinct family t- Of the sternum * Osteologie des Oiseaux, p. 94. t Dr. Cabanis has proposed (Orn. Not. in Wiegm. Arch. 1847, p. 343) to remove the Podargince into the family Coraciulce, but without giving any very good reason for so doing. At the same time, he leaves Nyctibius with the Caprimul-gidee. Dr. Cabanis considers that the Podargince are most nearly allied to the Eurylceminm, which, however (except Peltops, which is a Muscicapine form allied to Monarcha), I agree with Mr. Wallace in placing next to the American Co-tingida. It seems to m e that wherever Podargus and its allies go Nyctibius |