MEROPES— MEHOPID.i: 151 



Bill l)lack. Leg-s and feet dark brown. Winf]^ (^ 205-212 (II.), 

 9 slightly shorter. Tarsus 19-23. P.ill 10. 9 differs from 9 

 of "europa!Us" in having the white spots on primaries and 

 white tips to tail feathers as in ^, white tips, however, arc 

 shorter (about 25 m.m.). 



Breeds.— Morocco, S. Spain, Portugal. Rare elsewhere in 

 Europe, obtained once in England. Migratory; occurs in winter 

 in Sahara. 



C. ruficollis desertorum Erianger. Paler rufous than 

 ''ruficollis" and with fewer black markings above; less barred 

 beneath. Wing ^ 195-204, 9 187-202 (W.). 



Breeds.— Tvmxsx^i and Algeria, north of Atlas. Migratory. 



Caprimulgus oegyptius aegyptius Lichtenstein. 



^ $ Above sandy grey, tinged reddish, irregularly ver- 

 miculated with reddish buff and black ; inner webs primaries 

 white with black indentations and tip sandy colour ; beneath 

 dull buff distinctly but narrowly barred. Bill dark brown. 

 Legs and feet reddish brown. Wing $ 184-21 1, ? 190-208. 

 Tarsus 21-23. Bill 8-9 (W.). 



Breeds.— Y.%yY>^ and Nubia to S.W. Asia. Of occasional 

 occurrence Malta ; twice Sicily, once England and Heligo- 

 land. Migrates, but found in Egypt in winter. 



C. aegyptius saharae Erianger. Redder than typical form, 

 more sandy ; less marked with black on upper parts ; bars on 

 underparts very faint. 



Breeds. — Algeria and Tunisia to Egypt, west of Nile. 



MEROPES. 



Feet syndactylous, 3rd and 4th toes united to last 

 joint, 2nd and 3rd on basal joint; primaries 11, ist 

 very short ; rictal bristles very small ; bill long, slightly 

 curved ; nest in tunnels in ground ; eggs white. 



MEROPID^. 



Characters those of the Order. 



