KJO LIFE HISTOlllES OF NOKTH AMERICAN ElUDS. 



57. Nyctidromus albicollis merrilli Sennett 



MERRILL'S PARAUQUE. 



Xj/cti(lroiiiiix alhiriillis mcrriUi. 8KNNETT, Auk, V, Jau., 1888, 44. 



(B — ; C — ; R 356, part; (J 395, part; U 41<.t.) 



Geographical range: Southern Texas; south throiij;li uortheastern Mexico to the 

 Isthmus of Tehuautepec. 



The range of Merrill's Parauque within the United tStates is a rather 

 restricted one, being mainly confined, as far as known, to the lower Rio Grande 

 Valley and sonthern Texas. The most eastern point from which it has yet been 

 reported is Aransas Connty, where Mr. H. P. Attwater recently shot a specimen 

 near Rockport. It is known to be fairly common in the vicinity of Corpus 

 Christi. Mr. D. B. Burrows also met with it on the Nueces River, and these points 

 ])robably mark the eastern limits of its range. We are indebted to Dr. James C. 

 Merrill, United States Army, for the discovery of this handsome subspecies 

 within our Ijorders, who took the first specimen within the limits of Fort Brown, 

 Texas, on April 1, 187(5, and on May 2 he also obtained the eggs. Since then it 

 has been found to )je a common summer visitor in the lower Rio Grande Valley, 

 and a number winter there as well; but the inajority pass south into eastern 

 IMexico, usually returning again to their breeding grounds early in March. 



In speaking (»f the habits of this subspecies. Dr. Merrill says: "It frequents 

 shady thickets and copses (where these can be found), and, when flushed, dodges 

 rapidly and silently among the bushes, but soon alights, only to repeat the short 

 flight when again approached. The eggs are deposited in such a situation, 

 usually at the foot of a buslL The parent, when startled from her eggs, makes 

 no attempt to decoy one away, but, flying a few yards, alights to watch the 

 intruder, frequently raising herself on her legs and nodding in a curious manner, 

 uttering at the same time a low, whining sound. Their notes are among the 

 most characteristic night sounds of the lower Rio Grande, and are constantly 

 heard at evening during the summer months. They consist of a repeated whistle 

 resembling the syllables 'whew-whew-whew-whew-whe-e-e-e-e-w,' much stress 

 being laid upon the last, which is jtrolonged. The whole is soft and mellow, 

 yet can be heard at a great distance. The preliminary 'whews' vary somewhat 

 in number, and late in the season are often omitted altogether." * * * 



"On the 15th of May, 1876, I found a set of eggs near camp, at Hidalgo, 

 and on retuniing in about fifteen minutes to secure the parent, who had disap- 

 peared among the thickets, I found that she had removed the eggs, although they 

 had not been touched.'" 



Mr. D. B. Burrows has also kindly furnished me with the following notes on 

 Merrill's Parauque: "While in the lower Rio Grande country, in Starr Count}', 

 Texas, during the fall of 1 890, 1 first met witli tliis 1)ird. It seems to be a resident 

 species, for I met with it during the winter months as well as during the spring 



' Proceecliugs U. S. National Jlnseuiu, VoL 1, 1878, p. 145. 



