on: Creamy white.]
[Illustration: Whip-poor-will.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 264

417a. STEPHEN'S WHIP-POOR-WILL. _Antrostomus vociferus macromystax._

Range.--Arizona and New Mexico, south through the tableland of Mexico.

This sub-species is slightly larger and has longer mouth bristles than
the eastern bird. Their nesting habits are the same and the eggs differ
only in averaging lighter in color, with fainter markings, some
specimens being almost immaculate.

418. POOR-WILL. _Phalaenoptilus nuttalli nuttalli._

Range.--United States west of the Mississippi, breeding from Kansas and
northern California northward to Montana and British Columbia.

This handsome species is the smallest of the family, being under 8
inches in length. Its plumage is mottled black, white and frosty gray,
harmoniously blended together. They can easily be distinguished from all
other Goatsuckers by their size and silvery appearance. They nest on the
ground, either placing their two eggs upon a bed of leaves or upon a
flat rock. The breeding season is from the latter part of May through
July. The eggs are pure white and glossy; size 1.00 x .75.

418a. FROSTED POOR-WILL. _Phalaenoptilus nuttalli nitidus._

Range.--Texas and Arizona, north to western Kansas.

This variety is like the last but paler, both above and below. Eggs
indistinguishable from those of others of the genus.

418b. DUSKY POOR-WILL. _Phalaenoptilus nuttalli californicus._

Range.--A darker race found on the coast of California, having the same
nesting habits as the others.

The egg figured is of this species. Data.--Los Angeles, Cal., June 24,
1900. 2 eggs on the ground at the foot of an oak tree on the side of a
hill. Collector, F. M. Palmer.

[Illustration 266: Poor-will. Merrill's Paraque.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 265

419. MERRILL'S PARAUQUE. _Nyctidromus albicollis merrilli._

Range.--Mexico, north to the Lower Rio Grande in southern Texas.

This species is the same length as the Chuck-will's-widow, but is not as
stoutly built, and has a slightly longer tail. It can be distinguished
from any other of the family by its tail, the outer feather on each side
being black (or brownish barred with black in the female), and the next
two having white ends for nearly half their length. Their eggs are laid
on the ground in open localities, and generally under the protection of
an