BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 547 



N[yclidromus] alhicollis merrilli Hartert, Tierreich, Podai^., Caprim., Macropt., 



1897, 32. 

 [Nyctidromus] merrilli Sharps, Hand-list, ii, 1900, 83. 



Genus PHAL^^NOPTILUS Ridgway. 



Phalxnoptilus « Ridgway, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., iii, sig. 1, March 27, 1880, 5. 

 (Type, Caprimulgus nuttallii Audubon.) 



Small Caprimulginse (length about 175-215 mm.) with the nearly 

 trmicate tail much shorter than wing, tarsus longer than middlo toe 

 without claw, almost wholly naked, outer toe but slightly more than 

 half as long as middle toe, and tenth (outermost) primary shorter 

 than seventh. 



Bill rather broadly triangular, its length from frontal feathering 

 only slightly exceeding its width at same point; nostril nearer to 

 tip than to exposed base of bill, opening laterally in anterior end of 

 the inflated, subtubular, nasal fossa, which is somewhat elevated 

 anteriorly. Rictal bristles long (extending beyond tip of bill) but 

 slender; feathers of pileum broad, round- tipped, rather distinctly 

 outlined, those on sides of occiput not unusually developed. Wing 

 moderate, the longest primaries exceediag distal secondaries by 

 decidedly less than half the length of wing ; eighth and ninth prima- 

 ries longest and equal, the seventh decidedly shorter, the tenth (out- 

 ermost) slightly shorter than seventh. Tail between three-fifths and 

 two-tliirds as long as wing, very slightly rounded (difference between 

 length of outermost and middle rectrices not greater than length of 

 bill from nostrils) . Tarsus longer than middle toe without claw (about 

 one-seventh as long as wing), almost wholly naked (only the extreme 

 upper portion in front feathered) ; outer toe (without claw) more than 

 half as long as middle toe without claw but less than half as long as 

 middle toe with claw, slightly shorter than inner toe; hallux half as 

 long as outer toe. 



Plumage and coloration. — Feathers of pileum broad, with rounded 

 tip, rather distinctly outlined, those on sides of occiput not unusually 

 developed; feathers of chest not unusually developed; surface of 

 plumage of upper parts peculiarly soft (moth-like) ; no white on pri- 

 maries, which are banded with black and tawny-buff; tail (except 

 four middle rectrices) tipped with white in both sexes (more narrowly 

 m female), the proximal edge of this white area running straight 

 across, the white distinctly narrower only on umer web of third 

 rectrix. 



Range. — Western United States and northern Mexico. CMono- 

 typic.) 



a PTialxna (from <j)hXaiva, a devouring monster), a genus of moths, and nziXov, a 

 feather; having reference to the moth-like texture and coloration of the plumage. 



