THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 249 



bill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1909, p. 360 (Sanchez, La Vega, El 

 Valle). --Moltoni, Att. Soc. Ital. Scienz. Nat., vol. 68, 1929, p. 317 (Haina, 

 specimen). 



Migrant from United States; abundance not certain as the birds 

 are seldom seen. 



The chuck-will's-widow is a migrant species that comes in winter 

 from the southeastern United States to the West Indies. It is strictty 

 nocturnal, remaining under cover during the entire day and be- 

 coming active only at night when it comes out to search for food. 

 It is seen therefore only casually when one comes across a sleeping 

 individual. The few records available are not to be taken as an 

 index to the abundance of the species. 



Cherrie secured one February 3, 1 896, near Catarrey, and says that 

 he heard the Chuck-will's-widow calling frequently on clear even- 

 ings. Verrill records it near Sanchez, La Vega, and El Valle, and 

 says that it was not rare in the more open portions of wooded hill- 

 sides. Hartert informs us that the Tring Museum has an adult 

 female taken by A. H. Verrill at Sanchez, March 9, 1907. R. H. 

 Beck secured specimens at Santo Domingo City October 14 and 17, 

 La Vega December 4, 1916, Loma Tina January 16, and Tubano 

 February 20, 1917. Abbott forwarded one taken February 18, 1923 

 at Jovero, and says that it was killed by a boy with a slingshot or 

 catapult in dense jungle near a river. Near Hondo, below Con- 

 stanza, he saw several large nightjars in the wooded swamps that 

 may have included this species, but this was not certain as he did 

 not succeed in procuring specimens. Kaempfer has reported a few 

 in cacao plantations near Moca, and Hartert states (in a letter) that 

 the Tring Museum has skins collected by Kaempfer at Villa Riva, 

 February 4, 1924, Guanabano, near the border between the Provinces 

 of La Vega and Espaillat March 1, 1922, and near Caimato, Province 

 of Espaillat, April 1, 1922. Moltoni received one taken by Ciferri 

 near Haina. 



There are few definite records for Haiti. Ritter lists a specimen 

 of " rother Zeigenmelker " that may perhaps have been the chuck- 

 will's-widow. Cory speaks of two taken and gives one of them as 

 secured at Petionville February 28, 1881. 



The chuck-will's-widow is distinguished from other goatsuckers of 

 the island by large size, having the wing 201 to 225 mm. long and 

 measuring itself about 325 mm. in length. The plumage in general 

 is brownish, above becoming more or less grayish on the inner wing 

 feathers, everywhere minutely vermiculated with black, with black 

 streaks and spots on head and back. The breast is similar but paler, 

 there is a band of buff across the throat, and the abdomen is dull 

 buff barred with dusky. The male has the inner webs of the outer 



