GOATSUCKERS 225 



in the shade of a bush, and flew from his feet as he approached. 

 One of them lit again in a patch of bright sunlight, and, apparently 

 blinded by the light, sat there calmly until he walked up within a 

 few feet of it. He experimented with the birds, flushing them a 

 number of times, and found that when they lit in the shade, as they 

 usually did, they were not only much less conspicuous than in the 

 sun, blending in with the leaves and rocks, but the shade enabled 

 them to see him clearly enough for them to recognize what he was 

 so that they would fly while at a distance of four or five rods. 



The poor-will himself is less known than his voice, which is insep- 

 arably associated with the warm still western evenings. Coming 

 from the canyons in the moonlight it is one of the softest, most 

 soothing sounds in nature. 



418a. P. n. nitidus Brewst. Frosted Poor-will. 



Similar to nuttallii, but smaller and paler, prevailing color of upper parts 

 brownish gi-ai/ inclining to silver// or hoary, with black markings smaller and 

 much restricted ; chin and sides of head mottled grayish brown ; chest with 

 little if any solid black. Wing: 5.44, tail ^J.52, 



Distribution. — Texas to Arizona and from western Kansas south to 

 northern Mexico. 



Eggs. — Deposited on ground in open places, sometimes under a bush ; 

 2, white, usually faintly tinged with buffy. 



418b. P. n. calif ornicus Ridgw. California Poor-will. 



>imilar to nuttallii. but much darker; middle of crown largely blackish; 

 hind uf-ck extensively marked with black, back dull blackish gray or wood 

 brown instead of light brown. 



Distribution. — ("oast region of California. 



Eggs. — Similar to those of nuttallii. 



GENUS NYCTIDROMUS. 



Nostrils prolonged as cylindrical tubes opening forward and outward ; 

 nctal bristles heavy ; tarsus lengthened, but not exceeding middle toe with- 

 out claw ; wing scarcelv rounded ; plumage not so lax as in the whip-poor- 

 will. 



419. Nyctidromus albicollis merrilli Senn. Merrill Pa- 



RAltn'E. 



.1^/m// male. — Upper parts finely mottled gray and brown, the crown 

 broa<lly streaked with velvety hhick, and st(i])ultirs .'itrdingli/ jxitterned uith 

 triangular velvett/ black- ami buff)/ markings; wing r/uills cro.ssed btj uhitt 

 band : tail with second and tliird feathers largely white, throat with wide 

 white band, rest of under parts huU'y, barred. A<htlt female : similar, but 

 smaller, browner, duller, and white of wings and tail restricted. Yaung : 

 similar to sexes of adults, but much paler, crown with markings triangular 

 or tear-shaped with light border. Male: length 12.()0-1. '?..■")(», wing (1.7')- 

 T.'iO, tail (;.T')-7.4(). Female : length K )..")(>- 11. .">0, wing O.OO-G ;;0, tail .j.SO- 

 «M)(). 



Distribution. — From southern Texas .south to the Isthmus of Tehuan- 

 tepec. 



