North American Birds Eggs. 



201 



4 I 7a. Stevens Whip-poop-will. A iitro.sfdiniiN rorifcnifi tnarromystax. 



Range. — Arizona and New Mexico, !<outh through the tableland of Mexico. 



This sub-species is slightly larger and has longer mouth bristles than the 

 eastern bird. Their nesting habits are the same and the eggs differ only in 

 averaging lighter in color, with fainter markings, some specimens being almost 

 immaculate. 



418. Poor-will. Phalaciwptilui^ mttfallii. 



Range. — United States west of the ^Mississippi, breeding from Kansas and 

 northern California northward to Montana and British Columbia. 



This handsome species is the smallest of the family, , - — -^ 



being under 8 inches in length. Its plumage is mottled 

 black, white and frosty gray, harmoniously l)lended 

 together. They can easily be distinguished from all other 

 Goatsuckers by their small size and silvery appearance. 

 They nest on the ground, either placing their two eggs 

 upon a bed of leaves or upon a Hat rock. The breeding 



season is from the latter part of May through July, 

 eggs are pure white and glossy; size 1.00 x .75. 



The 



4 18a. Frosted Poor-will. Pli(tl(iciioptilii-s iiuffdllii nifidiix. 



Range. — Texas and Arizona, north to western Kansas. 



This variety is like the last but paler, both above and below, 

 guishable from those of others of the genus. 



fWhite.J 



Eggs indistin- 



4 18b. Dusky Poor-will. PJialdfuaptilus nuffdllii califoi'iiirus. 



Range.— A darker race found on the coast of California, having the same 

 nesting habits as the others. 



The egg figured is of this species. Data.— Los Angeles, Cal., June 24, IDOO. 

 2 eggs on the ground at the foot of an oak tree on the side of a hill. Collector, 

 F. M. Palmer. 



4 19. Merrill Parauque. yijctidroiiiiis albiroHis merriUi. 



Range. — Mexico, north to the Lower Rio Grande in southern Texas. 



This species is the same length as the Chuck-will's- 



widow, but is not as stoutly built, and has a slightly 



longer tail. It can be distinguished from any other 



of the family by its tail, the outer feather on each 



siile being black for brownish barred with black in 



tlie female), and the next two having white ends for 



nearly half their length. Their eggs are laiil on the 



— u'^V' :' ground in open localities, and generally under the 



[Salmon buff.J ^^^^ protection of an overhanging bush. They are 



two in number and differ greatly from those of any 



other American member of this family, being a buff or rich salmon buff in 



color, spotted and splashed with gray, lavender, and reddish brown; size 



1.25 X .90. Data. — Brownsville, Texas, April 16, lUOO, Eggs laid on the ground 



in a dense thicket. Collector, Frank B. Armstrong. 



