318 RALLIDZA. 
strongly resembling the American species of the present genus in the pattern of its 
plumage. 
We have reason to believe that these birds chiefly frequent the bush in the vicinity 
of rivers, where they may be heard uttering their peculiar note, unlike that of any other 
Rail. They are exclusively Neotropical. 
1, Aramides axillaris. (Tab. LX XVII.) 
Aramides axillaris, Lawr. Pr. Acad. Philad. 1863, p. 107’; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 311’; 
Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 449°; Salv. Ibis, 1874, p. 327°; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, 
p. 462°; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 56°. 
Supra viridescenti-olivaceus, tectricibus alarum et secundariis intimis dorso concoloribus ; remigibus ferrugineis, 
apicem versus brunnescentibus ; uropygio brunnescenti-nigro; supracaudalibus caudaque nigerrimis ; pileo 
et collo postico castaneis, collo imo postico et interscapulio schistaceis ; facie laterali vinaceo-castanea, gula 
vinascenti-alba ; corpore reliquo subtus castaneo, abdomine plumbescente; hypochondriis imis, tibiis et 
crisso fumoso-nigris, subcaudalibus nigerrimis ; subalaribus et axillaribus fumoso-nigris, albo, vix rufes- 
cente, transfasciatis : rostro viridi, ad basin flavo; pedibus vinaceo-rubris ; palpebis et iride rubris. Long. 
tota circa 12°5, ale 6°9, caudee 2-2, culm. 1-6, tarsi 2°15. (Descr. avis adulti ex Venezuela. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan, San Blas (Grayson *), Las Bocas de Silan, N. Yucatan (Cabot *) ; 
British Honpuras, Belize (Locourt ?)—ContomBia!®; Venezueta®; Trinmpap 6; 
BritisH Guana ® 
A species very easily recognized by its chestnut head and neck, which are of the 
same colour as the throat and under surface of the body, the under wing-coverts being 
blackish with white cross-bars. A. aatllaris was originally described from Barranquilla, 
Colombia, by Lawrence, and we have a specimen from Venezuela in our collection 
obtained by Mr. Spence ®; the bird procured by Schomburgk in British Guiana also 
proves to be of the same species? ®, Ag it has only been recorded from Mexico and 
British Honduras within our limits, there appears to be a considerable break in its 
distribution, and since we have not had the opportunity of comparing the Central- 
American with southern examples it is possible that they may prove distinct. 
Grayson * obtained a specimen in the mangrove-swamps near San Blas in 1866, and 
a second was shot by his son in April 1867; the stomachs of both birds contained the 
remains of small crabs and diminutive mollusca. During the months of April and 
May he states that he heard the chattering of these birds in the mangroves throughout 
the night. A. axillaris is a resident of Western Mexico, and does not appear to 
migrate. 
2. Aramides chiricote. 
Chiricote, Azara, Apunt. iii. p. 214°. 
Rallus chiricote, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. xxviii. p. 551”. 
Aramides chiricote, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 58°; Salvad. & Festa, Boll. Mus. 
Torino, xiv. no. 339, p. 12%. 
Aramides cayanea chiricote, Bangs, Pr. New England Zool. Club, ii. p. 14’, 
