(".\lM!lMll,(ilI)J';~ TIIK (iOATSI'CKKIJS. 407 



white, and I'xti'iid iicross liotli viuich ; tlio otliors li'ss cuiitiiiiious, ami yel- 

 liiwisli-niiuus l)cii('iitli us wi'U as ahovis ('specially (in llit; inner vane. 



The i'oinuh'.s are (|uitc similar, hut laek the white iialih ol' the tail, have 

 more niimentns rniniis sjnits on (|uil!s, and are perhaiis more rulv(ais in 

 general aiipearanee. Voiinjj; liirds, however, would hardly he rec(pi,'ni/.ed us 

 the same, exeept when taken with adults, owinj; to the predominance ol" a 

 ])ale cinnamon shade ahove, and a decided tin^'e ol' the same on all the 

 white and <;ray markinj,'s. Nearly all the ])rimarie8 have a liorder ol' this 

 color. 



The variety aciitijunniH of South America (see synopsis) \h very sin'ilar, 

 dilleriny merely in smaller dimensions. 



Habits. The Te.xan Ni<,'ht-llawk occurs in the valley of the Kio Grande 

 from Texas on the east, through New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California, 

 and Cape Sun Lucas. It is found in the northern provinces of Mexico dur- 

 ing the summer months, and thenee southward to Central AMierica. It was 

 found at Duenas, in Cuatemala, iiy Mr. Salvin, and also at Cohan. Mr. 

 Xantiis found it breeding at Cape San Lucas in May. 



This species was iirst added to our fauna hy Mr. Lawrence, in 1851, as a 

 bird of Texas, supposed to be 0. Iintsilifmvn, and in ' '5(5 described by the 

 same writer as a new sjiecios. 



According to Dr. Cooi)er, it makes its first appearance at Fort Mohave by 

 the 17th of April, and soon after becomes (luite numerous, hunting in com- 

 panies after sunset, and hiding during the day on the ground under low 

 bushes. Iiy the Uoth of May they had all jiaired, but continued nearly 

 silent, making only a low croaking when ap])roached. They ilew in the 

 manner of the common species, but seemed to sail in rather smaller circles. 

 Dr. Cooper found them as far west as the (,'oast Mountains. 



Dr. ('ones states that this species is common in the Colorado Valley, even 

 farther north than the latitude of Fort Whipple. It was not, however, met 

 with by him at that ])ort, nor iiuleed for some fifty miles to the south of it, 

 and then only in the sunnner. He adds that it extends from the Eio 

 (irande Valley westward to the Pacific. It was ftmnd abundant at Cai)e 

 St. Lucas by Dr. Xantus. 



Mr. Dresser found it very common at Matamoras during the summer sea- 

 son, and thence to San Antonio and to the ea.stward of that place. At San 

 Antonio, in the .s])ring, he first noticed them on the 2d of May, when he 

 saw seven or eight flying about at noonday. A few days later they had be- 

 come very numerous. They remained about San Antonio until the end of 

 September, and soon after disappeared. He noticed none later than the first 

 week in October. 



Mr. J. H. Clark met with this species at l^inggold Barracks, Texas, in 

 Junt. They were to be seen sitting about in the heat of the day, at whicli 

 time tliey could he easily aiiproached. I )uring the hottest days they did not 

 sally forth in c^uest of food until lute in the (!vening. On one occasion, near 



