North American Birds Eggs. 



201 



4 I 7a. Stevens Whip-poor-will. A iilrdniomux variferus macrDinyxIdx. 



Range. — Arizona and New Mexico, south through the tableland of Mexico. 



This sub-species is slightly larger and has longer mouth bristles than the 

 eastern bird. Their nesting habits are the same and the eggs differ only in 

 averaging lighter in color, with fainter markings, some specimens being almost 

 immaculate. 



418. Poor-will. PhalafiuipiilusnuftdUii. 



Range. — United States west of the Mississippi, breeding from Kansas and 

 northern California northward to Montana and British Columbia. 



This handsome species is the smallest of the family, ^ -, 



being under 8 inches in length. Its plumage is mottled y/' ^ 



black, white and frosty gray, harmoniously Ijlended / 



together. They can easily be distinguished from all other 



Goatsuckers by their small size and silvery appearance. 



They nest on the ground, either placing their two eggs 



upon a bed of leaves or upon a flat rock. The breeding 



season is from the latter part of May through July. The 



eggs are pure white and glossy; size 1.00 x .75. 



4 18a. Frosted Poor-will. Phahtciuipfilitu iiuttullii nitidns. 



Range. — Texas and Arizona, north to western Kansas. 



This variety is like the last but paler, both above and below, 

 guishable from those of others of the genus. 



Eggs indistin- 



4 18b. Dusky Poor-will. Phalaenopiilus rnittaUii raliffirukuii. 



Range. — A darker race found on the coast of California, having the same 

 nesting habits as the others. 



The egg figured is of this species. Data.— Los Angeles, Cal., June 24, IflOO. 

 2 eggs on the ground at the foot of an oak tree on the side of a hill. Collector, 

 F. M. Palmer.' 



419. Merrill Parauque. Xyctidromiis (tlbirollis incrrilli. 



Range. — Mexico, north to the Lower Rio Grande in southern Texas. 



.. .;•.,.- ,^ This species is the same length as the Chuck-will's- 



widow, but is not as stoutly built, and has a slightly 

 longer tail. It can be distinguished from any other 

 of the family by its tail, the outer feather on each 

 side being black (or brownish barred with black in 

 the female), anti the next two having white ends for 

 nearly half their length. Their eggs are laid on the 

 ground in <ipen localities, and generally under the 

 the protection of an overhanging bush. They are 

 two in number and differ greatly from those of any 

 American member of this family, being a buff or rich salmon buff in 

 spotted and splashed with gray, lavender, and reddish brown; size 

 1.25 X .90. Data. — Brownsville, Texas, April 16, 1900. Eggs laid on the ground 

 in a dense thicket. Collector, Frank B. Armstrong. 



other 

 color. 



