534 BIRDS FROM SEYCHELLES AND VICINITY— RIDGW AT. vol.xviii. 



hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo, high at first, then diminishing- lower and lower in 

 tone; it also has a short harsh call note, freqnently rej^eated. Breeds 

 in December, constructing a large oval nest, the size of a peck measure, 

 with the entrance in one end. It is very loosely made of strips of 

 bark, grass, and cocoannt leaves, when they are available, and is 

 idaced in a bush five to eight feet from the ground. The number of 

 eggs is three or four, white in color." (Abbott, MS.) 



Family CAPRIMULGID.E. 



3-2. CAPRIMULGUS ALDABRENSIS, Ridgway. 



Caprimulgns aldohrensis, Ridgway, Pioc. V. 8. Nat. Mus.. XVII, 1894, ]>. 378 (Alda- 

 bra Island; U. S. N. M.). 



Specific characters. — Similar to C. madaf/ascariensifi^ Grandidier, but 

 averaging larger; scapulars marked with grayish wliite instead of bufl'; 

 foreneck without collar of bufly spots, and white of tail more extensive 

 (that on lateral feathers extending 1.70 inches from tip in adult male). 



Habitat— AWabrsi Island. (Type No. 128G()8, U.S.N.M., male adult, 

 Aldabra Island, September L'9, 1892, Dr. W. L. Abbott.) 



Measurements of type. — Length (before skiuuing), 0.2.") inches; wing, 

 6.25; tail, 4.35; middle toe, 0.65. 



"Creole name, ' SommeU.'' Very common, generally remaining in the 

 jungle during the day, but numbers come around the houses in the 

 evening, being particularly attracted by the swarms of beetles about 

 the bone heaps where the turtles are slaughtered. Breeds on the open 

 sand hills, on the bare ground, in Sei)tember. Did not find any eggs, 

 but found a nest (;ontaining two young. 



"This bird has three notes. In the dusk of evening the first call is 

 heard — l-i(-ivi)]i', Ici1-in1h', with the accent strongly on the last syllable. 

 After dark the note heard is clnlk-tu-tu-tu-tu frequently repeated. 

 This sound is rather that of clucking than 'tu tu,' etc., but can not be 

 more nearly expressed in words. The third sound ]nade by the bird is 

 a sort of winnoicinij similar to the sound jnade by 8cops asio. This last 

 is rarely heard.'' (Abbott, MS.) 



Family CORACIID^. 

 33. EURYSTOMUS GLAUCURUS (Miiller). 



One specimen, December 10. 



"A roller was shot on lie Picard. I did not see any others, but one 

 of my men, who had lived several years on Aldabra, told me he had 

 several times seen them." (Abbott, MS.) 



Family MIOKOPODID.F. 



34. MICROPUS APUS (Linnsus). 



One specimen, December 1, ''One specimen shot on He Picard, 

 doubtless a straggler." (Abbott, MS.) 



I 



