584 



MR. P. L. SCLATER ON THE CAPR] MULGI D.E. [Dec. 13, 



Fig. 2. 



Tongue of Podaryus. Nat. size. 



and in the possession of powder-down patches — characters not yet 

 recognized in any of the Picarice, except in Leptosoma, where, a*s I 

 have lately shown*, the latter character is present. It becomes, 

 therefore, of great interest to know whether the other abnormal 

 forms hitherto referred to the Caprimulgidce agree with Podargus 

 in these respects. As regards these I have only yet had opportu- 

 nities of examining skins of Nyctibius and Steatornis. In Nyctibius 

 the powder-down patches are, I think I may say, present ; but whe- 

 ther the oil-gland is absent or not I cannot determine. I cannot 

 discover it in my skins ; but it is often very difficult to find this organ 

 in dried skins. In Steatornis the oil-gland is certainly present — 

 naked as in the typical Caprimulgidce ; but there appear to be no 

 powder-down patches. I have taken steps, however, to get some 

 specimens of Nyctibius in spirits, in order to be able to make a more 

 accurate investigation on these points, and hope to be able to return 

 to this interesting subject on a future occasion. 



I now give some additional notes on various species of American 

 * P. Z. S. 1805. p. 682. 



