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Show 866.] MR. SCLATER ON THE AMERICAN CAPRIMULGIDcE. 129 transvittatis ; crisso et plaga humerali pallide fulvis : long. tota 18, alar 122, caudce 10. Hab. Forests of the River Japura (Spix) ; Eastern wood-region of Peru, prov. Maynas (Tsch.). Easily distinguishable from N. arthereus by its smaller size, brighter rufous colouring, especially below, and the distinct broad black bars on the wings and tail. Specimens are in the British Museum and in Mr. Eyton's collection. 4. NYCTIBIUS JAMAICENSIS. Caprimulgus jamaicensis, Gm. S. N. i. p. 1029. Nyctibius jamaicensis, Gosse, B. Jam. p. 41 ; 111. pi. 6 ; Cassin, Pr. Acad. Phil. v. p. 185. Caprimulgus cornutus, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. x. p. 245, et Enc. Meth. p. 538 (ex Azara, no. 308). Nyctibius cornutus, Burm. Syst. Ueb. ii. p. 3/6 ; Tsch. F. P. 123. N. urutao, Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. N. pectoralis, Gould, Icon. Av. pi. 8. Fusco-cinereus, nigro striatus et maculatus, axillis nigris, humeris rufo indutis : subtus dilutior, scapis plumarum omnium et maculis pectoris rotundis nigris: long, tota 15 ad 13, alar 12 ad 9'5, caudar 8*5 ad 6*5. Hab. Jamaica (Gosse et Osburn) ; Guatemala (Constancia) ; Ecuador, near Quito (Fraser) ; wood-region of Eastern Peru (Tsch.); Paraguay (Azara); S.E. Brazil (Burm.). I agree with Mr. Cassin (Pr. Acad. Sc. Phil. v. p. 185) in considering all the names given above referable to one widely distributed and somewhat variable species. Hitherto (see Cat. of American Birds, p. 2/8) I have kept the Jamaican bird distinct, but ^merely on account of its larger size. But Mr. Salvin's Guatemalan specimen is larger than any Jamaican I have met with ; and, as will be seen by the subjoined table, in which the measurements of nine individuals are given, there seems to be every gradation of size when a series is examined. However, it is possible that more extensive research may enable the southern species to be discriminated. Gosse's Nyctibius pallidus (B. Jam. p. 49, et 111. pi. 7) is com-monlv regarded as only a variety of this species. But I am rather doubtful whether this is correct. Mr. March (in lift.) states that he believes it to be distinct. Measurements of Nyctibius jamaicensis. Patria. Mus. Long, tota, alae, caudas. Lat. rostri. 1. Jamaica P. L. S 2. Jamaica P. L. S 3. Jamaica Eyton 4. Guatemala O. Salvin 15-0 5. Andes near Quito .. P. L. S C. South America .... P. L. S 7. Ign* Eyton 8. Ign Fyton 9. Ign P. L. S PROC. ZOOL. SOC.-1866, No. IX. 14-5 14-0 14-0 150 13-5 130 140 130 130 11-4 111 110 120 106 9-9 102 9-5 100 8-0 77 7-9 8-5 76 6-5 7-2 6-8 7-0 21 1-9 20 21 1-7 1-7 1-9 1-6 1-7 |
