78 DR. p. L. SCLATER ON BIRDS FROM JAMAICA. [Feb. 26, 



maculis quibusdam, plumarum scapos occupantibus, in capite 

 elongatis, in dorso magis quadratis, nigris : alis nigris, pallido 

 fulvo extus regulariter oceUatis et iutus transvittatis : cauda 

 fuloo nigroque mitiute variegata, fasciis transversis indistinctis 

 nigris ; nuirgine lato apicali, in rectricihus mediis angustiore, 

 albo; subtus dorso similis sed cervice albo torquata, et ventris 

 niedii plumis late albo terminatis. 

 5 torque cervicali et rectricum apicibus fulvescentibus. 

 Long, tota 8"75", alee 5-3, caudae 4-8, tarsi •95, digiti ined. "QS. 

 Hub. In ins. Jamaica. 



Mr. Osburn's collection contains a pair of this very singular Goat- 

 sucker, obtained at Freeman's Hall, Trelawny, in September 1859. 

 The tickets attached to the two birds appear to have been changed, 

 as the white-collared bird, which is evidently the male, is marked 

 " female," and the other, " male." The form, which is quite new to 



me, is easily distinguishable from other American Caprimulgidce hy its 

 broadened bill, which is almost th&to{ Nyctibius, the excessive elon- 

 gation of the tubular nostrils, and the long naked tarsi (see woodcut). 

 I should be inclined to place it next to Nyctidvomns, with which it 

 agrees in the latter point ; and I have no doubt that its habits, of 

 which unfortunately we have no record, are m.ore or less terrestrial. 

 That this bird (and not Nyctidromus derbianus, as Mr. Cassin* 

 has attempted to show) is the Jamaican species of Sloane, upon which 

 Linnseus established his Caprimulgiis americanus, I think there can 

 be little doubt. Mr. Cassin has elaborately discussed the whole sub- 

 ject and comes to this conclusion—" that a species of Nyctidromus 

 does inhabit Jamaica, and which is not mentioned by Mr. Gosse, 

 Sloane's figure and description clearly demonstrate." Now, no true 

 Nyctidromus is known to inhabit Jamaica ; but this aberrant form, 

 which comes nearest to that genus, probably takes its place. It is 

 also especially remarkable for its elevated tubular nostrils — the only 

 character given by Linnaeus for the diagnosis of his Caprimidgus 

 americanus-f, and, as I beheve, of itself sufficient to distinguish this 

 peculiar form from every other known Caprimulgine bird. 



* I'loc. Acad. Pliilad. 1851, p. 180 e( seg. 



t •' narium tubulis eminent ibus." — Linn. S. N. i. p. 346. 



