Sir W. Jardine on the Ornithology of the Island of Tobago. 119 



while the principal collections in this country do not seem to pos- 

 sess it. The figure which we have found nearest to it is that of 

 Caprimulgus hirundinaceus, Spix, iii. fig. 1, but it differs in the 

 tail being represented even and in the throat without any white. 

 Mr. Kirk's species from its markings is a.female. In extreme' 

 length to the outer feather of the tail, which is slightly forked, 

 only 7 J- inches. Above, minutely varied with black, pale rufous 

 and grayish white ; wing-covers with an irregular oval white spot 

 at the tips of the outer webs, which appears rather conspicuously ; 

 the secondaries tipped with pale rufous, forming a bar across ; 

 the quills irregularly barred with the same colour, the bars be- 

 coming more indistinct on the outer webs of the first three, and 

 disappearing on both webs towards the tips (the first and second 

 quills are wanting in our specimen, but from the appearance of 

 the third the markings would be somewhat as we have stated) ; 

 the throat is reddish white and the remaining under parts pale 

 rufous, distinctly barred transversely with -black, except across 

 the breast, where the markings become more indistinct and pre- 

 sent a band across of mottled gray, black and rufous. 



In looking over some birds from South America belonging to 

 Dr. Armstrong of the Naval Hospital, Devonport, we found a 

 small male Chordeiles resembling the Tobago bird, and compa- 

 rison since has induced us to refer it to the same. The markings 

 on the wings and under parts are nearly similar, only that there 

 is less rufous, and the spot on the throat and those on the inner 

 webs of the quills are white. The crown is strongly marked with 

 black, the tips and centres of the feathers being of that colour, 

 and the upper parts exhibit a very minute and beautiful pencil- 

 ling, a gray tone prevailing over the whole. 



We have no notes attached to Mr. Kirk's bird, but it is more 

 than probable also a migratory species from the continent. 



Caprimulgus cayennensis, Gmel. (Jumbic Bird.) . s. 

 It was from Mr. Kirk's specimens that the figure of C. leopetes 

 was given by Mr. Selby and myself in the f Ornithological Illus- 

 trations/ but there can be no doubt that the bird in question is 

 the Crapaud-volant de Cayenne, figured PL Enl. 76. It seems 

 to be the common species in the island, and its manners approach 

 very near indeed to those of our native goatsucker. Mr. Kirk ob- 

 serves, " This bird is not migratory, but remains with us all the 

 year ; they are seldom to be seen during the day, but wherever 

 there is a dark solitary valley abounding with brushwood or long 

 grass, and if any clear pasture or cart or. foot road in the vicinity, 

 on such pasture or roads at the commencement of twilight or 

 rather later they are sure to be found. In such a place I saw one 

 about a fortnight ago ; next night I took my station at the same 

 place ; resolved to have it as well as to study its manners. At this 



