1851.] 179 



Vieill., and inserted in the catalogue (p. 10) as distinct, only prevents me from 

 giving that nanrie also, as a synonyme for the present species. I do not see hovir 

 the species can be made out from Vieillot's description in either Nouv. Diet, x, p. 

 239, (1817) or Ency. Meth. ii. p. 540, (1823) which both contain important 

 errors. In the original description (Nouv. Diet.) he says, "Nous verrons par la 

 suite un engoulevent dont la troisieme penne de la queue est la pins longue de 

 tallies ; singularite tjui ne se rencontre chezaucun autre oiseau. Celle du Manure 

 se presente sous une forme plus extraordinaire; la premiere penne caudale de 

 chaque cote est tres longue et depasse les deux intermediares d'environ cinq 

 pouces ; les troisieme et quatrieme sont tre,i coiirte, et la cinquieme, qui a plus de 

 longeur qui celles-ci, est plus courtes que les deux du milieu qui ont plusieurs 

 pouces de moins que les deux premieres." 



The third feather of the tail is twice mentioned and contradictorily represented, 

 the second feather is not described at all, and the fifth is said to be shorter than 

 the two in the middle, which must be considered as making twelve tail feathers, 

 when really Hydropsalis and other American ^aprimulgi have not more than 

 ten. In Ency. Meth. the observation "Nous verrons," &c., is omitted. 

 He proceeds, however, with exactly the same description, vi'hich even without 

 the introductory representation that the third feather is longest of all is not intelli- 

 gible, because the fifth is still represented as "plus courte que celles du milieu." 

 There are mistakes here, now difficult to correct, but as the descriptions in both 

 books are otherwise quite like the species now before us, I have little doubt that 

 it is the bird meant by this distinguished and learned naturalist. 



5. Genus Stenopsis, nobis, nov. gen. 



Bill longer than typical Caprimulgus, tapering and depressed ; upper mandi- 

 ble with about six or seven pairs of bristles, which are very rigid at their bases, 

 but very slender and curved at their tips ; gape very moderate, nostrils medial ; 

 aperture somewhat elevated. 



Wings moderate, second and third primaries longest (usually the second) and 

 sinuated on their outer webs. Tail ample, Jan-shaped, truncate or slightly 

 emarginate. Tarsi slightly feathered below the joint, shorter than the middle toe 

 and claw, and covered with scales. 



Wings with a conspicuous white bar in males, and probably in females; neck 

 with a broad and uninterrupted collar, white in front, and fulvous behind; tail 

 usually with a large portion of white on the external feathers ; characters of the 

 bill resembling Hydropsalis, Wagler. 



Obs. Another exclusively American genus, the bill in which very considerably 

 resembles that of Hydropsalis. The species which I have seen are : 



1. Stenopsis cayennensis, (Gm.) PI. Enl. 760. Jard. and Sel., III. pi. 87. 



2. Stenopsis longirostris, (Bonap.) Jour. Acad., Philada., iv. p. 384. 



3. Stenopsis parvulus, (Gould.) Pfoc. Zool. Soc, London, 1837, p. 22. 

 Which have several synonymes. 



6. Ge7ius Nyctidromus. Gould, Icones Avium, part ii. (August 1838.) 

 The species which I have seen of this genus are : 



1. Nyctidromus americaniis, (Linn,) Caprimulgus albicollis, Gm. Nyeli- 

 dromtis Derhyanus, Gould. 



2. Nyctidromiu gidanensis, (Gm.) 



3. Nyctidromus grallarius, Bonap. 



