41 



POTOO.* 



Nyctihius Jamaicensis. 



Caprimulgus Jamaicensis, Gmel. 

 Nyctihius Jamaicemis, Vieill. 



Nyctibius pectoralis, Gould, Ic. Av. 



Both the Whip-poor-will and the Chuck-will's- 

 widow have been assigned to Jamaica ; neither of 

 these vociferous and unmistakable birds, however, 

 have fallen under my observation there. It is not 

 improbable that the present bird has been mistaken 



* Length 16 inches, expanse 33^, tail 7f, flexure 11 1, rictus 2-|, breadth 

 of beak at base measured within 2^, tarsus ^, middle toe 1^. 



Irides hazel, orange-coloured, or brilliant straw-yellow ; feet whitish, 

 scurfy ; beak black. Interior of mouth violet, passing into flesh-colour. 

 Plumage mottled with black, brown, grey, and white ; the white pre- 

 vailing on the tertiaries, tertiary-coverts, and scapulars, the black upon 

 the primaries and their coverts ; the tail-feathers barred transversely 

 with black on a grey ground, which is so mottled as to bear a striking 

 resemblance to the soft pencilling of many Sphingidae ; tail broad, very 

 slightly rounded. The feathers of the head lax, and fur-like. Inner 

 surface of the wings black, spotted with white. A streak of black runs 

 on each side the throat, nearly parallel with and close to the gape ; a 

 bay tint prevails on the breast ; and some of the feathers there have 

 broad terminal spots of black, which are arranged in somewhat of a 

 crescent-form, having irregular spots above it. Under parts pale grey 

 unmottled. Every feather of the whole plumage is marked with a black 

 stripe down the centre. Tongue sagittiform, wide at the horns, slender 

 towards the tip, fleshy ; reverted barbs along the edges. The volume of 

 brain excessively small. Intestine 10^ inches; two caeca l^in. long, di- 

 lated at the ends. 



