Herr E. Hartert on the Caprimulgidae. 287 



Wagl,, Scl., &c.), is quite different, and at once distinguished 

 from C. vociferus audits forms by the shape of the silky white 

 tips to the outer rectrices, which are similar to those in 

 Caprimulgus sericeocaudatus, a very distinct form from South 

 America. As it has no name I propose to call it Caprimulgus 

 salvini. 



(11) Genus Hydropsalis. 

 The group of Goatsuckers with elongated tail-feathers show 

 great variety in the form of the rectrices, which is different 

 in almost every species. Some species have the outer rectrices 

 extremely elongated, others the central and lateral rectrices 

 moderately elongated, others, again, the central rectrices 

 moderately elongated and the lateral much elongated, while in 

 the African Scotornis only the central rectrices are elongated. 

 If the American species of this group are associated in one 

 genus, there remains no reason whatever to distinguish the 

 African Scotornis generically. But probably it would not 

 meet with general agreement among the authorities on 

 African ornithology \f Scotornis were united with the American 

 Hydropsalis. Therefore I believe it will be more convenient 

 to divide these birds into three groups, which are easily 

 recognizable as follows : — 



I. Lateral rectrices extremely elongated, the rectrices be- 

 coming gradually shorter to the middle, the central ones 

 shortest ; upper tail-coverts short. This is Macropsalis, and 

 contains M. lyra, M.forcipata, and M. segmentata. 



II. Lateral and central rectrices elongated ; lowest upper 

 tail-coverts elongated. This is Hydropsalis, and contains 

 H. climacocercus , H. torquata, H. schomburgki, and H. fur- 

 dfera. 



III. Central rectrices only elongated, rectrices becoming 

 gradually shorter to the sides, lateral ones shortest ; central 

 upper tail-coverts somewhat elongated. This is the African 

 Scotornis. 



(12) Genus Scotornis. 

 The chief character given by Swaiuson (B. W. Afr. ii. 

 p. 68) for his genus Scotornis, the variation in length of the 



