1851.] 189 



Obs. Each of the distinguished naturalists above cited founds his genus on 

 Caprimulgus duirnus, De Wied, Raise nach Bras, ii, p. 174, (1821,) vfhich appears 

 to be identical with " Del Nacunda" of Azara Apunt. ii. p. 544, on the faith of 

 which Vieillot named the species Cainlmulgus Nacunda, in Nouv. Diet. x. p. 

 240,(1817.) I am acquainted with one species only of this genus, which in- 

 habits South America, and is that upon which it is founded : 



1. Fodager nacunda, (Vieill.) Temm. PI. col. 182. 



23. Genus Lurocalis, noihis, nov. gen. 



Bill depressed, broad at base and suddenly compressed to the point, which is 

 hooked and acute ; nostrils basal, aperture slightly elevated, bristles rudimental 

 or none, mandibles somewhat dilated at base, gape ample. Wings long, pointed, 

 reaching to the end of the tail or beyond ; first and second (usually the second) 

 primaries longest. Tail short, truncate. Tarsi short, feathered in front to the 

 toes, naked behind. General form of head and body broad and robust. Wings 

 and tail without white, throat with a white angular uninterrupted semicollar. 



Obs. Of this new genus I have seen two species, both South American: 



1. Lurocalis Nuttererii, (Temm.,) PI. col. 107. 



2. Lurocalia semitorquatus, (Gm.,) Podager Gouldii, Gray Gen., pi. 18. 



24. Lurocalis semitorquatus, (Gm.) 



1. Cainlmulgus semitorquatus. Gm. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 1031, (1788,) a name 

 given by Gmelin on the faith of the "White collared Goatsucker" of Latham, 

 Gen. Syn. ii.pt. 2, p. 599, (1783,) who copies from " Le' petit Engoulevent 

 tachete de Cayenne" of Buffon Hist. Nat. desOis. vi. p. 540,(1779,) PI. Enl.734. 



2. Podager Gouldii. G. R. Gray, Genera of Birds, pi. 18, figured only, no 

 description published. 



3. These names are probably synonymes. 



In endeavoring to ascertain the genus to which C. semitorquatus, Gm., should 

 be referred, it must be admitted, that if we depend on Buffon's short description, 

 as above, and that of Gmelin, which is shorter, the bird may as readily be con- 

 sidered as belonging to Chordeiles as to any other genus. Buffon, who describes 

 from a specimen ' dans le cabinet de M. Manduyt," which he probably figures 

 also, says that it resembles Mai-cgrave's Ibiyau, (C. brasilianus,) "par la lon- 

 geur relative de ses ailes et par ses autres proportions." In the latter (vide art. 

 20 of this paper) the wings and tail are nearly equal, and this is also the case in 

 Buffon's plate, (PL Enl. 734.) This does not agree with one of the characters of 

 Lurocalis, but in all other respects the bird figured by Buffon has every appear- 

 ance of a bird of this genus, and, moreover, so much resembles the P. Gouldii, 

 that I have little doubt it is the same bird. 



Upon comparing a specimen of the P. Gouldii (which is not a rare bird) with 

 Buffon's plate, the thickness of the head and body, the truncated tail, the general 

 colors of the body above and below, and especially the markings of the wings 

 and tail, present such a strong similarity, that it appears to me impossible to 

 avoid the conclusion that it is the species intended to be represented, notwith- 

 standing the comparative shortness of the wings. 



If we compare with the same plate a specimen of the C. brasilianus, which is 

 referred to it by De Wied, we will quite agree with him that it is " sehr schlecht," 



