CRECISCUS. 323 
About sixteen species of Creciscus are known, of which five are found in Central 
America. 
1. Creciscus jamaicensis. 
The Least Water-hen, Edwards, Gleanings, vi. p. 142, t. 278. fig. 2°. 
Rallus jamaicensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 718”. 
Ortygometra jamaicensis, Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 198°. 
Porzana jamaicensis, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 4554; A. O. U. Check-list N. Amer. Birds, 
2nd ed. p. 79°; Scott, Auk, vii. p. 400°. 
Creciscus jamaicensis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 1857. 
Supra nigricans, maculis albis nigro marginatis ornatus; alis magis brunnescentibus albo maculatis, secundariis 
intimis dorso concoloribus; remigibus reliquis sepiariis, primario primo albo anguste marginato; 
cauda nigra; pileo et facie laterali plumbescenti-nigris; collo postico et laterali cum interscapulio 
summo sordide castaneo-brunneis ; corpore subtus toto plumbeo-schistaceo; crisso et hypochondriis imis 
nigris albo fasciatis; subcaudalibus nigris, cervino marginatis et terminatis; subalaribus fuscescenti- 
nigris, albo marginatis ; axillaribus nigris albo minute maculatis: rostro nigro ; pedibus vivide flavicanti- 
viridibus ; iride rubra. Long. tota circa 4°8, ale 2°65, caude 1-2, culm. 0-6, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. exempl. 
ad. ex California. Mus. nostr.) 
Juv. adulto similis, sed magis olivascens, eodem modo albo maculatus; collo postico rufescenti-brunneo : 
subtus colore schistaceo pallidiore et gula albida distinguendus. (Descr. ay. juv. ex Duefas. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Norra America, north to Massachusetts, Northern Illinois, and Oregon 5, Florida °. 
—GuatemMaLa, Lake of Duefias (Fraser 3, Salvin *’).—West Inpigs, Jamaica’. 
This diminutive species is easily recognized by its size, blackish colour, relieved by 
small spots and bars of white, leaden-grey under surface, and chestnut-brown mantle 
and back of the neck. 
C. jamaicensis seems to be very rare, even in the places where it breeds, and only 
two instances of its occurrence in Central America have been recorded. Fraser 
obtained one specimen on the Lake of Duefas, and we procured an immature bird in 
the same district. | 
2. Creciscus exilis. 
Rallus cinereus, Vieill. N. Dict. d’ Hist. Nat. xxviii. p. 556 (nec Porphyrio cinerea, Vieill.)’. 
Ortygometra cinerea, Gray, Gen. Birds, ii. p. 593°; Léot. Ois. Trinidad, p. 495 °. 
Porzana cinerea, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1868, p. 456* ; 1873, p. 308°; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 317°; Tacz. 
Orn. Pérou, iii. p. 8227. 
Aramides cinerea, Gray, Hand-l. Birds, iii. p. 61°. 
Rallus exilis, Temm. Pl. Col. v. t. 523°. 
Laterirallus exilis, Bp. C. R. xliii. p. 599”. 
Porzana exilis, Schl. Mus. Pays-Bas, Ralli, p. 35; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1866, p. 567”. 
Creciscus exilis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 1388”. 
Creciscus exilis vagans, Ridgw. Pr. U. 8S. Nat. Mus. x. p. 595; Richm. op. cit. xvi. p. 580°. 
Creciscus vagans, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 189 °°. 
Gallinula ruficollis, Swains. Anim. in Menag. p. 349”. 
41* 
