1866.] MR. SCLATER ON THE AMERICAN CAPRIMULGID/E. 129 



transvittatis ; crisso et plaga humerali pultide fulcis : long, 

 tota 18, alee 12-2, caudce 10. 

 Hab. Forests of the River Japura (Spix) ; Eastern wood-region 

 of Peru, prov. Mayn'as (Tsck.). 



Easily distinguishable from N. cethereus by its smaller size, brighter 

 rufous colouring, especially below, and the distinct broad black bars 

 on the wings and tail. Specimens are in the British Museum and 

 in Mr. Ey ton's collection. 



4. NYCTIBIUS JAMA1CENSIS. 



Caprimulgus jamaicensis, Gm. S. N. i. p. 1029. 



Nyctibius jamaicensis, Gosse, B. Jam. p. 41 ; 111. pi. 6 ; Cassin, 

 Pr. Acad. Phil. v. p. 185. 



Caprimulgus cornutus, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. x. p. 245, et Enc. Mcth. 

 p. 538 (ex Azara, no. 308). 



Nyctibius cornutus, Burm. Syst. Ueb. ii. p. 3/6 ; Tsch. F. P. 123. 



N. urutao, Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. 



N. pectoralis, Gould, Icon. Av. pi. 8. 



Fusco-cinereus, nigro striatus et maculatus, axillis nigris, humeris 

 rufo bid utis : subtus dilutior, scapis plumarum omnium et ma- 

 culis pectoris rotundis nigris : long, tota 15 ad 13, alee 12 ad 

 9'5, caudce 8*5 ad 6*5. 



Hab. Jamaica (Gosse et Osburn) ; Guatemala (Co?ista?icia) ; 

 Ecuador, near Quito (Fraser) ; wood-region of Eastern Peru (Tsch.) ; 

 Paraguay (Azara); S.E. Brazil (Burm.). 



I agree with Mr. Cassin (Pr. Acad. Sc. Phil. v. p. 185) in con- 

 sidering all the names given above referable to one widely distri- 

 buted and somewhat variable species. Hitherto (see Cat. of Ame- 

 rican Birds, p. 278) I have kept the Jamaican bird distinct, but 

 merely on account of its larger size. But Mr. Salvin's Guatemalan 

 specimen is larger than any Jamaican I have met with ; and, as will 

 be seen by the subjoined table, in which the measurements of nine 

 individuals are given, there seems to be every gradation of size when 

 a series is examined. However, it is possible that more extensive 

 research may enable the southern species to be discriminated. 



Gosse's Nyctibius pallidus (B. Jam. p. 49, et 111. pi. 7) is com- 

 monly regarded as only a variety of this species. But I am rather 

 doubtful whether this is correct. Mr. March (in lift.) states that 

 he believes it to "be distinct. 



Measurements of Nyctibius jamaicensis. 



Patvia. Mus. Long, tota, ate, caudas. Lat. rosfcri. 



1. Jamaica P. L. S 14-5 11-4 8-0 24 



2. Jamaica P. L. S 140 11-1 77 19 



3. Jamaica Eyton 14-0 110 79 2-0 



4. Guatemala O. Salvin 15-0 120 8-5 21 



:>. Andes near Quito . . P. L. S 13o 10G 70 P7 



G. South America .... P. L. S 130 9'9 6"5 17 



7. Ign Eyton 140 102 72 1-9 



8. Ign Eyton 130 95 6-8 Mi 



9. Ign P. L. S 130 100 7-0 \J 



Phoc. Zool. Soc. — 1860, No. IX. 



