404 North American biuds. 



Willi all these variations liio ej,'g.s are readily rewjgnizable, and bear no re- 

 80iiil)lanc(i to any otliers exee])t those «!' te.icnuitt and kcnri/i. From the 

 former they twv easily distinguished l»y the greater size, but from the latter 

 they can only be separateil by uonsi' ■rations of locality. 



Chordeiles popetue. var. henryi, Cassin. 



WESTEBN NIGHT-HAWK. 



ahorddhn hairiji, Canmn, Illiist. liiids of Cal. i Tux. I, 1855, 233. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 

 1858, I.'..'), pi. xvii. ScLAiKit, P. Z. S. 1806, 133. — Cooper, Oin. Cat. I, 1870, 343. 



Sp. ("iiAit. Siiiiiliir to \iir. pojic/ hi; hut tlio male con.siderably lighter, with a greater 

 proilomiiiaimo of the li;,'Iit iiiotllinns, jiroduciiig a more grayish aspect ; the fomaio more 

 rufoii.s. Wiug-patfli oF tli(> male iargcT (at least an inch long), and, like tiie tail-patch, 

 crossing tlio wliole brcadtli of tlie feather. 



Hah. Western I'lovinec of \orth Aniurica, e.\ce[)t Pacific Coast region. Matamoraa 

 to Siin Antonio, Texas (Dukssku, Ibis, ISUu, 471); Arizona (Couks, P. A. N. S 1866 

 68). ' 



In examining a large .series of Xight-Hawks, we find the differences in- 

 dicated above, in specimens from the Black Hills, liocky Mountains, and the 

 adjacent regions, to be ipiite decided and constant. Skins, however, from 

 Wasliington, Oregon, and Ciilifornia, seem darker even than the typical 

 eastern. There is no prominent difference beyond the lighter colors of male, 

 and greater distinctness, extent, and purity of the white or light markings, 

 and in the white patches of wing and tail, crossing the outer webs of all the 

 feathers ; the general proportions and pattern of coloration being quite the 

 same. It will therefore seem ])roper to consider C. hmriji as a local race, 

 characteristic of the region in which it occurs, and as such noteworthy, 

 but not entitled to imlependent rank. 



AnotluM- race, C. minor, Cab., similar to var. popetue, but considerably 

 smaller (Z.aO, wing, 7.0U), is resident in Cuba and Jamaica. C. popetue is 

 also said to breed in the latter island, but minor is probably referred to. 



Haiuts. This form, whether we regard it as a good species, or only a 

 western race of the common Night-Hawk, was first described as a new va- 

 riety by Mr. (^'issin, in ISoa, from specimens procured at Fort Webster, 

 New Mexico, by Dr. Henry, in honor of whom it was named. Its claim to 

 be considered a distinct race or species rests chiefly upon its constantly dif 

 ferent coloratiotis. 



Dr. Coojier, who regarded this form not specifically distinct from the Night- 

 Hawk, states that it is not found near the coast border of California. 



Dr. Kennerly encountered it in abundance in the vicinity of Los Nogales, 

 in Sonora, in -Tune. Late in tlie afternoon they came in great nuinbers 

 around the camp. They kejit circling round and round, and approached the 

 earth nearer and nearer with the declinin" sun. 



