OCR Text |
Show 538 MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON THE CRACIDAE. [JuilC 9, We were much puzzled as to the difference between this species and 0. vetula until we had examined the specimens already recorded as having been obtained by Mr. le Strange in the vicinity of Mexico ; and our American friends appear to have been in equal perplexity upon the subject. But upon comparison of examples of the two species all doubt vanishes, and the accuracy of Wagler's views becomes at once apparent. The present bird is at once distinguishable from O. vetula by its larger size, its white belly, and especially by its very long tail. The Smithsonian collection contains two examples of this species, obtained by Xantus on the Rio de la Armeria and Tupila River in 1863. 13. ORTALIDA VETULA*. Penelope vetula, Wagl. Isis, 1830, p. 1112. Ortalida vetula, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 1227; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. v. p. 116 ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 391 ; Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 62 ; Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 224; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 311. Ortalida poliocephala, Cassin, Illustr. p. 267, t. 44; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 310. Ortalida maccalli, Baird, B. N. A. p. 611 ; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 209; Dresser, Ibis, 1866, p. 24. Ortalida plumbeiceps, Gray, List of Gallinee, p. 11. Fuscescenti-olivacea : capite plumbeo : subtus dilutior, ventre medio ochraceo aut rufescente tincto: cauda ceneo-viridi, rectricibus quinque lateralibus albo aut cervino terminatis: long, tota 21, alee 7*7, caudce 9*0, tarsi 2*5. Hab. Texas, on the Rio Grande (M'Call fy Dresser) ; State of Vera Cruz (Salle, Boucard); Yucatan, near Merida (Schott); Guatemala, Vera Paz (Salvin) ; Honduras (Leyland). Mus. Brit., Paris., Berol., Smiths., S.-G. W e have examined a large series of specimens of this Guan, including the types of O. maccalli and O. plumbeiceps. W e were at first inclined to allow the latter (established by Mr. Gray upon Guatemalan specimens)to be distinct, from its smaller size and from the fulvous colouring of the terminations of the rectrices. In northern and central Mexican specimens, including the type of O. * Next to this species must be inserted a new one, of which a single skin has lately come into our possession:- O R T A L I D A RUFICRISSA, sp. nov. Fuscescenti-olivacea, capite plumbeo: subtus dilutior, ventre medio cincrace-scente; crisso dilute rufo: cauda ceneo-viridi, rectricibus quinque lateralibus albo late terminatis: long, tota 21-0, alee 7*7, caudce 9*0, tarsi 2*5. Hab. Valle Dupar, on south side of the Sierra Nevada of S. Martha, at an elevation of 400 feet (Joad). Mus. S.-G. Obs. SimiUs O. vetulce, sed crisso rufo et rectricum apicibus latius albis distinguenda. Mr. Joad, F.Z.S., obtained two examples of this Ortalida in December 1863, during his expedition in the vicinity of S. Martha. Only one skin was preserved, which is now in the collection of Salvin and Godman. |