154 



U. S. P E. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY— GENERAL REPORT. 



white, transversely barred with dark brown. The V-shaped mark on the throat is of a rusty 

 tinge, and much obscured by having its feathers tipped or spotted at the end with dark brown. 

 The white patch on the wing is situated nearer the carpal joint than the tip of the primary, and 

 is rather restricted, not crossing to the outer web of the first and second primaries. It extends 

 only over the five outer quills. The tail has about ten transverse bands which are conspicuously 

 yellowish rusty above. 



This typical specimen has the second quill rather longest, and all the primaries tipped with 

 pale rusty, an evident indication of immaturity. In other specimens, apparently the same, the 

 first quill is longest, the primaries without any paler tips, and the V-shaped mark on the throat 

 not obscured by the dusky blotches. 



As already stated, no undoubted males referable to this species are in the collection before 

 me, none having the white marks on the tail. 



Compared with female specimens of O. virginianus, the upper parts exhibit much more rufous 

 •mottling above, thus excluding almost entirely the dusky shades. The coverts are tipped with 

 a much more extended and continuous shade of pale brownish yellow. The white spot of the 

 wing is smaller and nearer the carpal joint. The tail is much lighter, the dark transverse bars 

 narrower. JThe toes and middle claw are shorter, (possibly not fully grown.) 



I am by no means satisfied as to the right of this specimen to specific distinction from C. 



virginianus, as it is decidedly immature and is very similar in many respects to rufous varieties 



of the latter species. It is barely possible that these varieties may also belong to C. henryi ; if 



so, however, I am at present unable to define the two species in any satisfactory manner. A 



larger collection, in better condition, may hereafter throw some light on the subject not now 



attainable. 



List of specimens. 



CHOEDBILES TEXENSIS, Lawrence. 



Texas Night-Hawk. 



Chordeiles hrasilianus, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyceum, V, May 1851, 114, (Texas,) (not of Gm. 



Cassin, 111. 1, 1855, 238. 

 Chordeiles sapiti, Bou. Conspectus Avium, I, 1849, 63. 

 Chordeiles texensis, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lye. VI, Dec. 1856, 167. 



Sp. Ch — Much smaller than C. virginianus, but similar. White on the wing extending over only four outer primaries, the 

 bases of which, as well as the remaining ones, with other quills, have round rufous spots on both webs. Under tail coverts and 

 abdomen with a strong yellowish rufous tinge. Female more rufous and without the white spot of the tail. Length 8.75; wing 7. 



Hab. — Rio Grande Valley and south ; west to Gulf of California. 



This species in many respects resembles G. virginianus, but some of its markings and its 

 much smaller size will at once serve to distinguish the two. 

 Selecting a specimen (395T) from Santa Caterina, Mexico, as a type, the prevailing color 



