190 ORNITHOLOGY. 



BufF. PI. Enl. 732, Tschudi, Faun. Per. Aves. PI. 6. 



Naturalists might safely desist from the farther describing of this 

 species. One of the reasons, however, of its having so many names, 

 is the fact that the acuminations at the tips of the tail-feathers, from 

 which its specific name is derived, are not always present. This cha- 

 racter is represented very strongly in BufFon's plate, cited above, and 

 is frequently to be found in specimens. Occasionally, too, the shafts 

 of the tail-feathers terminate abruptly, as if broken off, and sometimes 

 the tail is perfect. 



Mr. Peale states of this bird : 



" It was found to be a common species near Callao, in Peru, during 

 the month of July, and was seen resting on the ground only, never on 

 fences or trees. It was not heard to utter any cry." 



4. Genus NYCTIBIUS, VleHht, Analyse, p. 38 (181C). 

 1. Nyctibius ^thereus {De Wied). 



Caprimuhjiis. ccthcreiis, De Wied, Reise nach Brasilien, I, p. 236. 



Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XIV. Adult. 



We find in the collection of the Expedition, a fine specimen of this 

 large and well-marked species, which appears to have been obtained 

 in Brazil, As stated by us in "Notes on the Caprimulgidce,'' in Pro- 

 ceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, V, p. 

 185, this bird is quite distinct from Nyctibius grandis, or any other 

 species. It is one of the largest birds known of this family, being fully 

 the size of the species just mentioned. 



■wliite band crossing all except the two middle feathers; near the tip, inside of this band, 

 are several gray mottled bars ; beneath six decided white bars, the end one being the 

 most conspicuous. 



"Total length, eight and one-tenth inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, six and nine- 

 tenths inches ; tail, middle feathers, three and four-tenths inches ; outer feathers, four 

 inches ; tarsi, half an inch ; middle toe, including the claw, seven-tenths of an inch ; claw, 

 two-tenths of an inch; pectination very conspicuous; hind toe, one-fourth of an inch; 

 claw, one-twentieth of an inch; bill, two-tenths of an inch; to the angle of the mouth, 

 nine-tenths of an inch." 



