418a. FROSTED POOR-WILL. _Phalænoptilus 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. _Phalænoptilus 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.]
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 overhanging bush. They are two in number and differ greatly from those of any other American member of this family, being a buff or rich salmon buff in color, spotted and splashed with gray, lavender, and reddish brown; size 1.25 × .90. Data.--Brownsville, Texas, April 16, 1900. Eggs laid on the ground in a dense thicket. Collector, Frank B. Armstrong.
[Illustration 267: Salmon buff.] [Illustration: Geo. S. Fiske. NEST AND EGGS OF WHIP-POOR-WILL.] [Illustration: right hand margin.]
420. NIGHTHAWK. _Chordeiles virginianus virginianus._
Range.--North America, east of the Plains and from Labrador to the Gulf of Mexico; winters through Mexico to northern South America.
The Nighthawk or some of its sub-species is found in nearly all parts of North America, its habits being the same in all localities. It is of the same size as the Whip-poor-will, from which species it can readily be distinguished by its lack of mouth bristles, forked tail with a white band near the end, and the white band across the primaries, the latter mark showing very plainly during flight. Besides in the country, they are very common in cities, where they will be seen any summer day towards dusk flying, skimming, sailing, and swooping over the tops of the buildings, upon the gravel roofs on which they often lay their eggs. They nest generally on rocky hillsides or in open woods, laying their two eggs upon the top of a flat rock. The eggs are a grayish white color, marbled, blotched and spotted with darker shades of gray. Size 1.20 x .85.