400 CAPRIMULGIDE. 
collection of the Sociedad Economica de Guatemala in 1874, we were informed, was 
obtained from a native in the city of Guatemala; and, lastly, in the same year 
Don Juan Rodriguez had one which was sent him from Vera Paz. In all the other 
Central-American States Wyctibius jamaicensis occurs as far south as the Line of the 
Panama Railway, where M‘Leannan obtained a specimen and sent it to Mr. Lawrence. 
Gosse® gives an excellent account of the habits of this species ; he says that in 
Jamaica “it is not unfrequently seen in the evening, taking its station soon after 
sunset on some dead tree or fence-post, or floating by on noiseless wing, like an Owl, 
which the common people suppose it to be...... Now and then it is sgen:by day; but. 
it is half concealed in the bushy foliage of some thick tree, which it can with difficulty 
be induced to quit...... As it sits in the fading twilight it ever and anon uttersa loud 
and hoarse ho-hoo, and sometimes the same syllables are heard, in a much lower tone, 
as if proceeding from the depth of the throat.” The food of specimens examined by 
Gosse consisted of large Coleoptera, such as Megasoma titanus, a species of black 
Phaneus, and other Lamellicorns. Individuals kept alive for a short time would 
always sit across the finger or stick, never lengthwise as is the habit of so many 
Caprimulgide. The iris in life is brilliant yellow, and the inside of the mouth violet 
assing into flesh-colour. 
to) 
2. Nyctibius grandis. 
Le grand Tette-chévre tacheté du Brésil, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 485+. 
Grand Crapaud-volant de Cayenne, Daub. Pl. Enl. 325°. 
- Caprimulgus grandis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 1029°. . 
Nyctibius grandis, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. N. xvi. p.7*; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N.Y. vii. p. 290°; 
Hartert, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 628°. 
Supra griseus, albo vermiculatus, interscapulio, humeris et tectricibus alarum fulvo tinctis: subtus albus 
nigricante griseo vermiculatus, gutture fulvo tincto; alis nigricantibus indistincte fasciatis, subalaribus 
nigris albido et fulvo guttulatis; cauda nigricante, fasciis vermiculosis griseis notatis. Long. tota 
circa 20:0, alee 14:3, caudex 9°5, tarsi 0°55, dig. med. cum ungue 1:3. (Descr. exempl. ex Sarayacu, 
Ecuador. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Panama, Lion Hill (M‘Leannan*®).—Sovrn America, from Colombia to the 
Amazons Valley ® and Guiana ! ? 8. 
Nyctibius grandis is one of the largest species of the genus, equalling, if not 
exceeding, in size the Brazilian .V. wihereus, from which it differs in being much 
lighter in tint, the ground-colour of the plumage being nearly white, on which the 
darker markings are overspread. 
The range of this Nyctidius extends over the northern portions of South America 
from Guiana to Colombia, and its presence has also been recorded from several places 
in the Valley of the Amazons. Its presence in our country is proved by a single 
specimen obtained by M‘Leannan at his station on the Panama Railway. This was 
sent to Mr. Lawrence, and is correctly named in his first list of M‘Leannan’s birds °. 
