HYDROPSALIS FURCIFERA. 15 



light rufous collar at the back of the neck ; wing-coverts with large light brown 

 spots ; primaries black, with a broad white bar across the five outer ones ; tail 

 black ; lateral rectrices with a white bar near the base, and very broad white 

 tips : beneath fulvous, with narrow blackish cross bands : throat-band white ; 

 crissum pale fulvous : whole length 1OO inches, wing 6'0, tail 5-0. Female 

 similar, but the white on the throat, wings, and tail replaced by fulvous and 

 less extended. 



Hab. Chili, Patagonia, and Argentina. 



A single skin of this species was obtained at Conchitas by Hudson. 

 Durnford also found it rather rare in Chupat and its vicinity, though 

 resident and breeding in that district. f( When flushed it never flies 

 very far, but seeks the shelter of a small hush, squatting flat on the 

 ground, and from its peculiar zigzag mode of flight it is difficult for 

 the eye to follow it." 



246. HYDROPSALIS FURCIFERA (VieilL). 



(FORK-TAILED GOATSUCKER.) 



[PLATE XII.] 



Hydropsalis furcifera, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 96; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, 

 p. 185 (Buenos Ayres) ; Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 24 (Entrerios). Hydro- 

 psalis psalurus, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 450 (Parana). Hydropsalis 

 torquata, Lee, Ibis, 1873, p. 134 (Gualeguaychii). 



Description. Above brown varied with black ; a light rufous collar on the 

 back of the neck ; wing-coverts with numerous rounded white or fulvous spots ; 

 wings black, crossed beneath by pale rufous bands ; outer primary edged with 

 white : beneath paler, with a pale fulvous throat- collar ; tail with the outer 

 rectrix twice as long as the middle pair, black, edged with white ; the next 

 three pairs similar, but gradually diminishing in length ; the middle pair like 

 the back, and rather longer than the second pair : whole length 20*0 inches, 

 wing 7*2, tail 15-5. Female similar, but tail short, black banded with fulvous, 

 and without any white. 



Hab. Paraguay and Argentina. 



This remarkable Goatsucker was often observed by Durnford in the 

 province of Buenos Ayres in spring and autumn. It lives on the 

 ground, generally in damp situations, and where the grass is long and 

 thick enough to afford some slight cover, and is generally observed in 

 parties of four or five individuals. Its flight is noiseless, and performed 

 by jerky erratic movements. In Entrerios Mr. Barrows tells us this 

 species is a " rather common summer resident, arriving in August and 

 leaving in May. While hunting capybaras and armadillos by moon- 



