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U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
white, forming a conspicuous hand. There is, however, one very decided mark in a white 
patch on the five outer primaries situated about half way between the carpal joint and the tip 
of the wing. This commences on the inner vane of the first primary, without involving or 
crossing the rib, along which it extends for less than half an inch, widening inwards to three 
quarters of an inch on the inner edge. On the second primary there is a white blotch on the 
outer vane, opposite the large spot on the inner, which involves the rib. The third, fourth, 
and fifth primaries have the blotch passing continuously across from inner to outer edge of the 
quill. 
The tail feathers are dark brown, with about eight or ten transverse and rather irregular 
bands of mottling, which below are nearly white, above of a light brownish gray. The termi¬ 
nal blotch on all hut the two inner feathers (one on each side) is white on both surfaces, larger 
and more quadrate, and scarcely reaches to the outer edges of the feathers. 
The female is similar in general characteristics, except that the Y-shaped mark on the 
throat is yellowish rusty instead of white, the white patch on the wing rather less conspicuous, 
and the quadrate terminal white spots on the end of the four exterior tail feathers (on either 
side) are wanting. There is also appreciably more rusty in all the grayish or light tints. 
In a large series of skins before me I find considerable geographical differences when com¬ 
pared with the typical Pennsylvania specimens. Thus, in skins from the upper Missouri and 
Platte, as also from Bridger’s Pass, (5594,) the general colors are lighter, owing to the much 
greater amount of grayish mottling on the hack and the wing coverts, as well as the scapulars. 
The color of the upper parts, ip fact, exhibits hut little of that decided impression of black pre¬ 
viously described. The white spot in the middle of the wing is considerably larger, and in 
most cases crosses the midrib to the outer edge of the first primary. The feet appear shorter ; 
the wings and tail about the same length. All the eastern specimens before me agree in their 
dark colors. Specimens from Steilacoom are as dark, however, as those from Pennsylvania, and 
not distinguishable from them. The same may be said of a pair from the Cosumnes river, 
California. 
Still another series, chiefly from southern Texas and New Mexico, is characterized by a great 
preponderance of pale rufous spotting on the back. The characters in this respect are much as 
in C. texensis, almost every feather on the back having a reddish spot. The size is rather less 
than in more northern specimens. There is, however, so imperceptible a gradation into the 
lighter northern series, and from this into the dark eastern ones, that I confess my inability to 
define any permanent specific differences. The skin described as C. henryi belongs to the 
most rufous type, and may possibly be distinct. With reference to the others, however, I feel 
in very great doubt. 
It is much to be regretted that the name of Vieillot should be of so barbarous a character, 
since it is the first one that can be used. The Caprimulgus virginianus of Brisson includes 
both this and Antrostomus .vodferus , and cannot be retained, and with it fall the names of 
Gmelin and others based upon it. The mistake was first committed by Catesby, whose figure 
is an unnatural association of the two species. 
In two specimens (8224, 8225,) from Fort Laramie, collected by Doctor Cooper, the wing and 
tail feathers are not fully grown out; but independently of this, the size appears much less 
than in any others from the same latitude, smaller even than in C. texensis. The middle toe 
and claw measure but .60 of an inch. The color is very gray, without any conspicuous rufous 
mottling. 
