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Show 584 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON THE CAPRIMULGID.'E. [ Dec. I 3, Tongue of Podargus. Nat. size. and in the possession of powder-down patches-characters not yet recognized in any of the Picariar, except in Leptosoma, where, as I have lately shown*, the latter character is present. It becomes, therefore, of great interest to know whether the other abnormal forms hitherto referred to the Caprimulgidar agree with Podargus in these respects. As regards these I have only yet had opportunities of examining skins of Nyctibius and Steatornis. In Nyctibius the powder-down patches are, I think I m a y say, present; but whether the oil-gland is absent or not I cannot determine. I cannot discover it in m y skins ; but it is often very difficult to find this organ in dried skins. In Steatornis the oil-gland is certainly present- naked as in the typical Caprimulgidar; but there appear to be no powder-down patches. I have taken steps, however, to get some specimens of Nyctibius in spirits, in order to be able to make a more accurate investigation on these points, and hope to be able to return to this interesting subject on a future occasion. I now give some additional notes on various species of American . * P. Z. S. 1865, p. 682. |