400 CAPEIMULGIDiE. 



collection of the Sociedad Economica de Guatemala in 1874, we were informed, was 

 obtained from a native in the city of Guatemala; and, lastly, in the same year 

 Don Juan Rodriguez had one which was sent him from Vera Paz. In all the other 

 Central- American States Nyctibius jamaicensis occurs as far south as the Line of the 

 Panama Eailway, where M'Leannan obtained a specimen and sent it to Mr. Lawrence. 

 Gosse ^ gives an excellent account of the habits of this species ; he says that in 

 Jamaica "it is not unfrequently seen in the evening, taking its station soon after 

 sunset on some dead tree or fence-post, or floating by on noiseless wing, like an Owl, 



which the common people suppose it to be Now and then it is seen by day ; but 



it is half concealed in the bushy foliage of some thick tree, which it can with difficulty 



be induced to quit As it sits in the fading twilight it ever and anon uitersaloud 



and hoarse Jio-lwo, and sometimes the same syllables are heard, in a much lower tone, 

 as if proceeding from the depth of the throat." The food of specimens examined by 

 Gosse consisted of large Coleoptera, such as Megasoma titanus, a species of black 

 Phanoeus, and other Lamellicoms. Individuals kept alive for a short time would 

 always sit across the finger or stick, never lengthwise as is the habit of so many 

 Caprimulgidse. The iris in life is brilliant yellow, and the inside of the mouth violet 

 passing into flesh-colour. 



2. Nyctibius grandis. 



Le grand Tette-chevre tachete du Bresil, Briss. Om. ii. p. 485 ^. 

 Grand Crapaud-volant de Cayenne, Daub. PI. Enl. 325 ^. 

 Caprimulffus grandis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 1029 '. 



Nyctibius grandis, Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. N. xvi. p. 7^; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 290'; 

 Hartert, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 628 \ 



Supra griseus, albo vermiculatus, interscapulio, humeris et tectricibus alarum fulvo tinctis: Bubtus a]bus 

 nigricante griseo vermiculatus, gutture fulvo tincto ; alis nigricantibus indisfcincte fasciatis, subaJaribus 

 nigris albido efc fnlvo guttulatis ; cauda nigricante, fasciis vermicnlosis griseie notatis. Long, tota 

 circa 200, alae 14-3, caudse 9-5, tarsi 0-55, dig. med. cum ungue 1-3. (Descr. exempl. ex Sarayacn, 

 Ecuador. Mus. nostr.) 



Eab. Paj^ama, Lion Hill (M'Leannan^). — South America, from Colombia to the 

 Amazons Valley ^ and Guiana ^^^. 



Nyctibius grandis is one of the largest species of the genus, equalling, if not 

 exceeding, in size the Brazilian N. cethereus, from which it difiers in beinc much 

 lighter in tint, the ' ground-colour of the plumage being nearly white, on which the 

 darker markings are overspread. 



The range of this Nyctibius extends over the northern portions of South America 

 from Guiana to Colombia, and its presence has also been recorded from several places 

 in the Valley of the Amazons. Its presence in our country is proved by a single 

 specimen obtained by M'Leannan at his station on the Panama Railway. This was 

 sent to Mr. Lawrence, and is correctly named in his first list of M'Leannan's birds ^. 



