160 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



57. Nyctidromus albicoUis merrilli Sennett 



MEREILL'S PARAUQUE. 



Nyctidromm albicoUis merrilli Sennett, Auk, V, Jan., 1888, 44. 



(B _; — ; R 356, part; (J 395, part; IT 419.) 



Geographical kangb: Southern Texas; south through northeastern Mexico to the 

 Isthmus of Tehuantepec. 



The range of Merrill's Parauque within the United States is a rather 

 restricted one, being mainly confined, as far as known, to the lower Rio Grande 

 Valley and southern Texas. The most eastern point from which it has yet been 

 reported is Aransas County, where Mr. H. P. Attwater recently shot a specimen 

 near Rockport. It is known to be fairly common in the vicinity of Corpus 

 Christi. Mr. D. B. Burrows also met with it on the Nueces River, and these points 

 probably mark the eastern limits of its range. We are indebted to Dr. James C. 

 Merrill, United States Army, for the discovery of this handsome subspecies 

 within our borders, who took the first specimen within the limits of Fort Brown, 

 Texas, on April 1, 1876, and on May 2 he also obtained the eggs. Since then it 

 has been found to be a common summer visitor in the lower Rio Grrande Valley, 

 and a number winter there as well; but the majority pass south into eastern 

 Mexico, usually returning again to their breeding grounds early in March. 



In speaking of the habits of this subspecies. Dr. Merrill says: "It frequents 

 shady thickets and copses (where these can be found), and, when flushed, dodges 

 rapidly and silently among the bushes, but soon alights, only to repeat the short 

 flight when again approached. The eggs are deposited in such a situation, 

 usually at the foot of a bush. The parent, when startled from her eggs, makes 

 no attempt to decoy one away, but, flying a few yards, alights to watch the 

 intruder, frequently raising herself on her legs and nodding in a curious manner, 

 uttering at the same time a low, whining sound. Their notes are among the 

 most characteristic night sounds of the lower Rio Grande, and are constantly 

 heard at evening during the summer months. They consist of a repeated whistle 

 resembling the syllables 'whew-whew-whew-whew-whe-e-e-e-e-w,' much stress 

 being laid upon the last, which is prolonged. The whole is soft and mellow, 

 yet can be heard at a great distance. The preliminary 'whews' vary somewhat 

 in number, and late in the season are often omitted altogether." * * * 



"On the 15th of May, 1876, I found a set of eggs near camp, at Hidalgo, 

 and on returning in about fifteen minutes to secure the parent, who had disap- 

 peared among the thickets, I found that she had removed the eggs, although they 

 had not been touched." ^ 



Mr. D. B. Burrows has also kindly furnished me with the following notes on 

 Merrill's Parauque: "While in the lower Rio Grande country, in Starr County, 

 Texas, during the fall of 1890, 1 first met with this bird. It seems to be a resident 

 species, for I met with it during the ^^' inter months as well as during the spring 



' Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 1, 1878, p. 145. 



