Vol. 30, pp. 131-132 July 27, 1917 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



ADDITIONS TO THE HAITIAN AVIFAUNA. 

 BY PAUL BARTSCH. 



During our recent trip to Haiti, which extended from April 

 1 to 29 of this year, collections of birds were made whenever 

 time permitted, and a journal account of the species observed 

 was kept, as usual. The notes secured will furnish the basis 

 for a little paper which I hope shortly to submit to the "Auk " 

 for publication. 



In the mean time, I wish to bring a description of a new yel- 

 low rail and the occurrence of a number of other birds not 

 heretofore listed for Haiti, on record. 



I am deeply indebted to Dr. Charles W. Richmond, Assistant 

 Curator of the Division of Birds, for a useful manuscript check 

 list of the birds reported for Haiti, prior to our visit, which 

 proved of excellent service in the field, and served as a splendid 

 stimulus to our work. 



Porzana flaviventris hendersoni, new subspecies. 



Type, adult female, Cat. No. 253,731, U. S. N. M., from Trou Caiman, 

 Haiti, April 4, 1917, collected by Paul Bartscb; original number 101. 



This little rail is differentiated from the rest of the West Indian series 

 in the United States National Museum by its smaller size and lighter 

 coloration. Compared with the Cuban specimens, we may say that the 

 Haitian bird is of lighter coloration both above and below. The buff, 

 which is strong on the sides of the neck and chest in the Cuban speci- 

 mens, is reduced to a mere suffusion in the Haitian bird. The Porto 

 Rican bird in the United States National Museum is even darker than 

 the Cuban specimens, while the Jamaican specimen has the buff of the 

 side of the neck and chest more extended and the dark areas of the back 

 more restricted. Measurements: wing, 65 mm.; tail, 20 mm. ; culmen, 

 15 mm.; tarsus, 22.5; middle toe, 29.5 mm. 



Three additional specimens of this little rail were seen in a two hours' 



32— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. 30, 1917. (131) 



