19. NYCTIBIUS. 623 



(Our descriptions are from two females from Peru and an imma- 

 ture skin from Colombia in the Berlejisch collection.) 



Hah. Colombia to Peru. Seems to be an inhabitant of high 

 elevations. 



a. Vix ad. st. Boorota. Purchased. 



Subfamily II. NYCTIBIIN.E. 



The genus K)/ctibins differs so greatly from the Capr'imuhj'uui' in 

 having the normal number of phalanges in the outer toes, in the 

 claw of the middle toe not being pectinated, in the presence of large 

 powder-down patches, in the extremely short tarsus and totally 

 different feet, and in the peculiarly hooked bill, that its members 

 must be regarded as constituting a subfamily, if not a family. 

 In most other respects, however, they agree with the Cajirimulyidce, 

 but little is known about their habits. 



The subfamily consists of one genus only. 



Range. From Jamaica and Mexico throughout the tropical parts 

 of South America. 



19. NYCTIBIUS. 



Type. 



Nyctibius, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. xvi. p. 6 (1817) N. jamaicensis. 



Nyctoruis, Nitzsch, Pterylogr. p. 1.30 (ISIO) N. jamaicensis. 



llange. That of the subfamily. 



Kei/ to the Sjjecies. 



a. Small, wing less than 7 inches ; general colour 



rufous ; Banks and lower tail-coverts with 



large silky white terminal spots bracteatus, p. 623. 



b. Larger, wing more than 7 inches ; tail not more 



than 9. 



a. Tail less than 6 inches leucoptenis, p. 624. 



b' . Tail always more than 6 inches jamaicensis, p. 625. 



c. Very large, tail always more than 9 inches. 



c . CTround-colour rufous above ; top of the head 



deep brown and rufous, without pale 



markings lomjicaudatus, p. 626. 



d' . Ground-colour rufous-brown above ; top of 



the head blackish with very light cross 



markings (ethereus, p. 627. 



e . Ground-colour more or less whitish yrandis, p. 628. 



1. Nyctibius bracteatus. 



Nyctibius bracteatus, Gmdd, P. Z. S. 1846, p. 1 ; £p. Consp. i. 

 p. 58 (1850) ; Cnss. Proc. Ac. Sc. Phil. v. p. 184 (1851); id. Cat. 

 C'a2)rim. .Mus. Phil. (1851) ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1866, pp. 130, 538 ; &■/. 8f 

 Salvin, Exot. Oni. pi. 20 (1867); iid. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 9o 

 (1873); Tucz. Ova. Perou, i. p. 206 (1884); Salvin, Ibis, 1885, 

 p. 438 (B. Guiana). 



Nyctibius rufus, Vab.in Schonib. 6'Mta«a, p. 711 (1848); Scl.P.Z.S. 

 '1866, pp. 130, 585. 



