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Show 1867.] MR. P. L. SCLATER ON PERUVIAN BIRDS. 343 an old bird sitting, I moved the egg on more than one occasion, but never found the old bird carry away the egg. If the young bird is moved it is sometimes taken away by the old birds. Last year, upon one occasion, I found a young bird, and brought it home to draw. Having finished, I took it back to the same spot and waited to see whether the old bird would find it again. In about half an hour, the low plaintive cry of the young bird brought the old one, who carried it away to a distance of about 200 yards."-W. N. In m y notes on the American Caprimulgidce, published in the last volume of the Society's 'Proceedings'*, I remarked that I much doubted whether Mr. Cassin had correctly united C. eequicaudatus, Peale, with C. parvulus, Gould. The specimen now sent me by Prof. Nation proves that m y suspicions were correct. There can be little doubt that the present species is the same as that discovered by Peale, as it agrees tolerably well with his figure and description, and is also from the same locality, where also Prof. Nation tells us it is the only species that occurs. It is, however, certainly distinct from the true Antrostomus parvulus of Brazil and La Plata, having a longer and more compressed bill, being much more sandy and paler above, and wanting the distinct ocellated spots on the wings which distinguish the Brazilian bird. The single specimen sent by Prof. Nation is a female, and has the wing-band rufous, and the gular spot indistinct and fulvous. 10. PORZANA JAMAICENSIS (Gm.). "Found in the alfalfa-ftelds."-W. N. Does not seem to differ from Guatemalan specimens. 11. PORZANA ERYTHROPS, sp. nov. (Pl. XXI.) " Found in the ditches, where there is much vegetation."-W. N. I have not been able to find any description of this very well-marked species, which may be described as follows:- Supra fuscescenti-olivacea, alis et cauda concoloribus : capitis et cervicis lateribus cum corpore subtus pallide plumbeis, gula albicante: hypochondriis, alarum tectricibus inferioribus et crisso nigricantibus albo transfasciatis: anofulvescente: rostro ad basin sanguineo, inde corneo, apice flavo : pedibus flavidis : long, tota 7'5, alee 4*2, caudce 1*2, rostri a rictu 0*9, tarsi 1*2, dig. med. c. ungue 1*3. Hab. in vicin. Lima? in Peruv. transand. This bird is of about the same size as P. Carolina, and has the bill of nearly the same form, but seems to be shorter and stouter in general aspect. The wings are short and concave, the second and third primaries being longest, and the next following gradually diminishing in length. But the most remarkable parts of the bird's structure are the feet, the tarsi being shorter and stouter, and the toes much shorter than in any other Crake with which I am acquainted. It may probably be necessary to institute a separate genus # P. Z. S. 1866. p. 138. |
