I^O Stejneger, Analecta Ornithologica. [April 



The piece marked d becomes relatively larger as the bird ma- 

 tures, while the piece e seems to vary both in form and length 

 in the various specimens before me. We likewise notice that 

 the forms assumed by the anterior extremities of the pieces_/"and 

 g must vary with the differences already referred to, that take 

 place in a., d, and e. 



In the drawings here presented, which are such correct repre- 

 sentations of the objects they depict, no doubt the reader will dis- 

 cover other interesting: differences than those I have g'iven above. 



ANALECTA ORNITHOLOGICA. 



Fifth Series. 



BY LEONHARD STEJNEGER. 



XXV. Why Chordeiles virginianus and not Ch. popetue? 



In order to answer this question I will first have to quote the 

 description of the author who first established the binominal 

 Caprimulgus virginianus. Gmelin gives the following account 

 of the species (S. N., I, 1788, p. 102S) : 



"Virginianus. 3. C. fuscus, transversim griseo-fuscoet hinc inde cinereo- 



varius, subtus ex rubescente albus transversim stria- 



tus, menti macula trigona alba, area oculorum et 



cervice aurantiis maculis varia. 



Caprimulgus minor americanus. Syst. nat. XII. 1. p. 



346. 1. p. Kalm it. 3. p. 93. 

 Caprimulgus virginianus. Briss. av. 2. p. 477. n. 3. 

 Whip-poor-will. Catesb. Car. 3. t. 16. Edvj. av. 2. /. 



63. Buff. hist. nat. dcs ois. 6. p. 534. 

 Longwinged Goatsucker. Arct. Zool. 2. p. 436. n. 337. 



t. iS. 

 Virginia Goatsucker. Lath. Syn. II. 2. p. 595. n. 6 . . . 

 Genae ex cinerco fuscae; remiges atrae, 5 primae circa 

 medium, rectrices extimac prope apicem macula alba 

 nolatae; pedes incarnati." 

 This description, considered alone, will be seen to fit the 

 Nighthawk (Ridgw., Nomencl., No. 357) very well. Particu- 



