276 Herr E. Hartert on the Caprimulgidae.' 



as that of the adult bird after the summer moult. During my 

 recent investigations, however^ I have come to consider it very 

 improbable that there really exists an entire summer moult 

 in the Caprimulgidce, as several specimens Mhich I have 

 examined seem to disprove its existence. Correspondence 

 ■with several good field-ornithologists in my own country 

 and personal inquiries among a number of my English 

 friends have not satisfied me; at least nobody could state 

 that he had undoubtedly observed a total moult. For the 

 present, therefore, I must leave tljis question open, but I 

 hope to be able to solve it during the current year. What I 

 now believe is, that the Goatsuckers moult very slowly, like 

 all birds which depend greatly on their powers of flight in 

 procuring food ; that there is no time to moult the wing- 

 and tail-feathers betw-een the breeding-season and their de- 

 parture; that they do not moult them during their voyage 

 to the south, and that therefore (though they may change 

 parts of the body-plumage in Europe) they moult the quills 

 and rectrices during their absence from Europe — so that onlij 

 one moult takes place in a year. I should be extremely de- 

 lighted if ornithologists could give me some evidence of the 

 truth of this supposition or disprove it. 



In working at the Caprimulgidse in the British Museum I 

 have had before me grand materials^ as will be seen from the 

 lists of specimens in the ' Catalogue of Birds ''; but, besides, 

 these, I have tried to see as many specimens as possible of 

 rare species and of such forms as are not represented in the 

 British Museum, especially types and typical specimens. 

 Herein I have been greatly assisted by Mr. F. A. Allen, 

 Freiherr II. von Berlepsch, Messrs. J. Biittikofer, H. Dresser, 

 K. Hertwig, Alfred Newton, Th. Pleske, O. Salvin, J. Stolz- 

 mann, Count Salvadori, Mr. Walter Rothschild, Mr. H. See- 

 bohm, Canon Tristram, and others, who have rendered me 

 most valuable help. 



Having said thus much, I will proceed to give remarks 

 upon certain obscure points as regards some of the species of 

 this difficult group. 



