WHITE-HEADED POTOO. 49 



plumage, in which the shaft of each feather is pro- 

 longed into a pliant filament of great length. It is 

 this texture which gives the character of inter- 

 mingled hairs to the feathers around the mouth. 

 This tendency in the shafts and in some of the webs 

 also to terminate in filaments is very prevalent in 

 the plumage of the Nyctibius, each of the feathers 

 of the tail having this sort of termination." 



The Potoo is a permanent inhabitant of Jamaica ; 

 it is common in the lowlands of the south side, and 

 probably is generally distributed in the island : it is 

 found also in Brazil, for I am quite satisfied that 

 Mr. Gould's N. Pectoralis is not specifically distinct 

 from ours. 



WHITE-HEADED POTOO.' 

 Nyctibius pallidus. MIHI. 



THE description below I have quoted (somewhat 

 abridged) from Robinson's MSS., who has given 



* " Length 1 1 inches, expanse 22, rictus If, beak from feathers to tip 

 |, flexure 6, tail 3|. 



"The nostrils prominent, tubulated, and covered with a membrane ; 

 from the nostrils runs a deep groove or furrow towards the tip. The 

 beak was bent like the end of an Owl's, and when closed was longer 

 than the under mandible ; the latter was of a subulated form, shorter 

 and bending in a contrary direction to the upper one : it was broader 

 than the upper ; its margins were inverted, and received the upper one 

 exactly, when closed. There were no bristles on the angle of the mouth. 

 The tibiae [tarsi ?] or shank-bones are shortened into a heel, so that the 

 measure of what is usually called the leg, from the bend of the knee to the 



D 



