ANTEOSTOMUS NDTTALLI. 5G7 



Family OAPRIMULGlDiE— Goatsuckers. 

 Antrostomus nuttalli. 



Poor-»'iil. 



(Koo-ta-ffHch' of tlie Paiiites; Toft-yd'unvlt of the Sboslioues.) 



Caprimiilf/Hs nuttalU, Audubon, Oni. Biog., V, 1830, 335. 



Antrostomiis niiltaUi. Cassin, Jourii. Ac. Nat. Sci. Pbiliul., II, 1852, 123. — Baikd, 



Birds N. Am., 1858, 140; Oat. N. Am. Biitls, 1850, No. 113.— Cooper, Oiu. 



Cal., I, 1870, 341.— COUES, Key, 1872, 181; Check List, 1873, No. 2G(!; Birds 



N.W., 1874, 201.— B. B. & R., Hist. N. Aui. B,, II, 1874, 417, pi. XLVI, lig. 3. 



— IlKNSUAW, 1875, 300. 



Unlike its easteru representative, the well-kno\vu Wlii})-poor-will (A. 

 vociferus), this western species is an inhabitant of open pkiees exclusively, 

 tlie sage-brusli country being, so far as we observed, its only habitat. It 

 appeared to be most abundant on the mesas and about the foot-hills of the 

 mountains, but it was often observed or heard in the lower valleys, as well 

 as in the mountain-parks, below an altitude of S,OOU feet. This bird was 

 seen only when startled from the ground liy our too near appniach, when 

 it would fly up suddenly and flutter off in a maimer similar to that of 

 certaii\ Owls, the flight being also noiseless. ()ften while returning late 

 from the mountains, and while following the road or ti-ail homeward across 

 the mesa, vfQ have beheld one of these Ijirds start up in front of us, as 

 noiselessly as a shadow, again settling down a few ri)ds ahead; we have 

 followed one thus for a hundred yards or more before it would diverge 

 from our course. 



The call of this bird is somewliat like that of the Whip-poor-will, 

 but is far less distinctly uttered, as well as weaker, sounding more like 

 2)oor-wUl, the last syllable only being distinctly enunciated. This call we 

 have heard at all hours of the day, but they sing most vigorously as night 

 approaches. Both sexes incubate. 



List of specimens. 



799, S nr?.; Truckee Reservation, Nevada, Jiiue 3,1808. Sf'g— 17i— (?)— 5. Bill, 

 black; iris, rawiimber; tarsi hkI toes, dusky sepia. 



843, eggs 2; East Humboldt Mouutaius, ,Iuly 20, ISGS. Deposited ou bare 

 ground, beneath sage-bush, on hill side. ftLale killed while flying horn eggs. 



