302 Mr. C. H. B. Grant on a Collection of 



162. Macrodipteryx longipennis. Long-plumed Nightjar. 



Caprimulgus longipennis Shaw, Nat. Misc. vol. viii. 1796, 

 pi. 2G5 : Sierra Leo)ie. 



a-c. S ? ad. Kamchuru, 3250 ft. Feb. 10 & 11. 



Total length in flesh : cJ 8| & 8^ inches ; ? 9 inches. 

 "W'ing: S 174 & 172 mm.; ? 162 mm. 



All three specimens are in quite good dress. One of the 

 males lacks the long wing-plumes, but is apparently adult. 

 The female, besides being smaller, is slightly paler than the 

 two males. 



[Irides brown^ eyelids yellow or light brown; bill black, 

 yellowish at base ; legs and toes brown or brownish-Hesh. 

 The male with plumes was sliot sitting on the ground, and 

 appeared to be squatting between the elongated feathers 

 which project on either side. lu the evenings several were 

 seen flying together, and their appearance on the wing is 

 most peculiar.] 



As regards the name Caprimulgus macrodipterus Afiielius 

 (r/. Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. ii. 1802, p. 264), used by 

 Hartert in the ' Calalogue of Birds' (vol. xvi. 1892, p. 594) 

 and quoted under Afzel, Descr. Sierra Leone, pi. 1794, 

 I have examined carefully this work at the Linncaii Society. 

 The true title is 'Account (jf the Natural Productions of 

 Sierra Leone/ by Adam Afzelius ; I find that it is in a 

 ' lleport of the Directors of the Sierra Leone Company,' 

 dated the 27th of Marcii, 1794, and is mainly devoted to the 

 slave trade. In an appendix at the end is the only mention 

 of wild birds, as follovvs : — '' Biids. Of these the Directors 

 have as yet received no perfect account. Ii is mentioned 

 that there is a Crane of an extraordinary appearance, which 

 becomes very tame; it is reckoned very good food." 



The only plate in the work is a map of Sierra Leone, 

 which bears at the bottom the date 28 Nov. 17 94. 



At the end of the work there is a notice to the effect that 



another edition of the report is being published at the price 



of five shillings, but I cannot find that this was ever issued. 



Dr. Hartert has himself in the 'Ibis,' 1896, p. 373, 



pointed out that the figure and description were never 



