1851.] 181 



is also impossible for the reason just stated, and others which are obvious upon 

 examination of Sloane's description and figure. 



Bonaparte, in Conspectus Avium p. 63, places Caprimulgus araericanus, Linn, 

 as a Chordeiles. 



It does not appear that either of the authors cited, from Ray to the present time, 

 ever saw a bird which he understood to be the Caprimulgus americanus, Linn., 

 for which Sloane is the sole authority. In fact, the exact expressions used by 

 him are repeated by nearly all writers; for instance, the term "Feuille mort " 

 which he applies to the colour of his bird, is copied exactly by Brisson, Buffon, 

 Vieillot and Latham, while Gmelin latinizes it into " folii marcidi." 



For the purpose then of ascertaining or rendering probable what bird is en- 

 titled to the name of Caprimulgus americanus, hinii., there is nothing left but to 

 revert to the description and figure of Sloane, and to the description in the catalogue 

 of Sloane's birds,'by Ray, who describes "ex ejusdem Schedis manuscriptis," in 

 Syn. Av. App. p. 180. 



A difficulty occurs at once, which has perplexed authors. It is, that although 

 Sloane describes his bird as " seven inches from the end of the bill to that of the 

 tail," he gives a figure about eleven inches long, respecting which Buffon justly 

 enough obs-^rves, "qu'ilest fort rare que I'on donne de pareilles figures grossies." 

 Ray says, " parvaadmodumavis est, septem non plusdigitis longa," having seen 

 the manuscript only. Gmelin, Vieillot, G. R. Gray and Bonaparte appear to rely on 

 the text exclusive of the figure. Brisson says eleven inches long without com- 

 ment, relying on the latter. Buffon (Hist. Nat. des Ois. vi. p. ,'544, 1779) attempts 

 to elucidate, and suggests that the measure given by Sloane may have been taken 

 to the base of the tail only, which he says with the tail (4 inches) would coin- 

 cide with the length of the figure. Latham, perhaps taking the idea from Buffon, 

 offers a similar supposition. But Sloane says very distinctly, "from the end of 

 the bill to that of the tail," and it is clear enough and easily ascertained that all 

 the other birds described and figured by him were so measured. 



It is sufficiently evident to me that Sloane's measurements are simply wrong; 

 he says, " This was seven inches long from the end of the bill to that of the tail, 

 and ten from the end of wing to wing expanded, the tail was four iriches long." 

 It would be difficult to find a bird with such relative dimensions, especially a 

 Caprimulgus. It is simply a mistake made by Sloane himself, as it evidently 

 was so written in his manuscript, according to Ray. Nor are the dimensions 

 given by him ever entirely to be relied on, for the good and sufficient reason that 

 he measured with his thumb, "which," he says, " with a Utile allowance I reck- 

 oned an inch." (Preface to Vol. i. p. 2.) I am disposed to reject his dimensions 

 entirely as given in the description of the species now under consideration, but 

 to place full dependence on those of the figure, because, as he says expressly, his 

 figures were made " on the i)lace." " I employed," says he, " the Reverend Mr. 

 Moore, one of the best designers I could meet with there, to take the figures of 

 them, (fruits,) also of the Fishes, Birds, Insects, &c., in crayons, and carried 

 him with me into several places of the country, that he might take them on the 

 place." The Reverend Mr. Moore no doubt came generally pretty near the 

 right size, but otherwise did not acquit himself very handsomely in birds, judging 

 from the engravings. In plants, however, he did much better. 



