ORTALIS. 98] 
Hab. Nortu America, Southern Texas 18.—Mextico (Wagler 12; Deppe & Schiede ?° *1), 
Matamoros (McCall 28), Sierra Madre above Ciudad Victoria, Aldama, Valles, San 
Luis Potosi, Vera Cruz (2ichardson 18), Tampico (le Strange", Richardson '8), San 
José Acateno 27, Plan del Rio 18 (Ferrari-Perez), Guanajuato, Guadalajara (Dugés*>), 
Hacienda de los Atlixcos (F. D.G. 18), Jalapa (de Oca *, Hoge 18), Cuestade Misantla, 
Vega del Casadero, La Antigua (I. Trujillo 18), Playa Vicente (Boucard °), Cordova, 
Vera Cruz (Sailé§ 22, Sumichrast 18 4), Orizaba 14, Uvero 1, Chimalapa “, Guichi- 
covi, Tehuantepec !1 (Sumichrast), Teapa, Tabasco (H. H. Smith 18), Yucatan 33 
Meco I. 161718) Holbox I. 161718, Cozumel I.!8, Mugeres I. 18 (Gauwmer), Merida 
(Schott 26); Brrrisn Honpuras (Leyland 18), Belize (Blancaneaux '*) ; GUATEMALA 
(Skinner ®), Coban (0. 8.18) ; Honpuras (Taylor *), Omoa (Leyland *), San Pedro 
(Whitely °). 
The races, or so-called subspecies, of O. vetwla do not differ sufficiently to warrant 
their specific separation. Yucatan specimens are rather paler than those from most 
other localities, and some slight differences in the colour of the plumage and in size 
may occasionally be observed in a large series throughout its range. 
The species is found in Texas, on the Lower Rio Grande, and southward through 
Mexico to Honduras, where it is strictly a forest bird and is very common. | 
Dr. Gaumer ! says that O. vetula spends most of its time in the trees feeding on 
fruit, flowers, and tender leaves, and that its neutral green plumage renders it almost 
invisible. When disturbed it jumps to the ground and, having ascertained the nature 
of the danger, gives one or two long leaps and again mounts upon a limb, thence 
hopping rapidly from branch to branch until out of sight. The cry is harsh and 
sonorous and may be constantly heard in the early morning or late evening. The 
native name “Chacha” or ‘ Chachalaca,’ which seems to be applied also to other 
species of the genus, is derived from this note, which is frequently audible at a long 
distance. Dr. Gaumer says that the trachea of the male is a great trumpet-like 
instrument. It is described by him as prolonged beneath the skin of the breast and 
abdomen almost to the anus, whence it returns and enters the chest at the usual place ; 
this peculiarity is not found in the female. In Texas the birds are said to nest in the 
heaps of leaves accumulated under the mesquite-bushes. ‘The eggs are from three to 
five in number, of a creamy-white colour. 
4. Ortalis leucogastra. 
Penelope leucogastra, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1848, p. 105°. 
Ortalida leucogastra, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 2247; P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 539 *, 
Ortalis leucogastra, Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 514°; Handb. Game-Birds, i. p. 247°. 
Penelope albiventer, Lesson (nec Wagl.), Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 174 *; Gould, Voy. Sulph., Zool. p. 48, 
t. 31". 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. III., February 1908. 36 
