Aug. 1922. Game Birds — Osgood & Conover. * 39 



All the specimens obtained were males. 

 Local names, Montagnera, paloma colorada. 



Pardirallus maculatus Boddaert. 



Lagunillas, State of Merida, i. 



One specimen in Field Museum collection purchased from Briceno 

 Gabaldon, Merida. 



Aramides cajanea Miiller. 



Rio Guachi, 2; Encontrados, i; Empalado Savanna, i. 



Until such time as a comprehensive study can be made of geo- 

 graphic variation in this species, it seems advisable to refer these speci- 

 mens to the typical form. They agree closely with specimens from 

 Guiana and seem to indicate that the validity of A. c. venesuelensis 

 (Cory, Field Mus. Pubs., Ornith. Ser., Vol. i, p. 296, Feb. 23, 191 5) 

 may be open to question. The type of venesuelensis, taken in Febru- 

 ary, is in rather worn plumage and paler than our May specimens from 

 Rio Guachi, which are in fresh plumage and only slightly, if at all, 

 paler than Guiana material. In these specimens, also, the brownish 

 color of the occiput does not extend forward more than in Guiana 

 specimens. With larger series, it may be found that the Venezuela 

 bird averages slightly paler on the underparts than typical cajanea, 

 but as judged by available material, absolute identity of the birds from 

 the two regions seems just as probable. Chapman (Dist. Bird Life 

 in Col., p. 217, 1917) has noted slight color variations in wood rails 

 from Colombia and it is evident that further work on the group would 

 be desirable. 



The first specimen taken was shot May 2 from its nest which was 

 situated in a tussock of mixed growth at the edge of the river bank 

 in heavy forest. So close to the water was the nest that the canoe 

 in passing almost touched it and one of the paddlers standing in the 

 stern distinguished the incubating bird which at a greater distance 

 would scarcely have been detected. The nest contained five eggs very 

 heavily incubated. The second specimen, taken May 3, was a female 

 also, and contained large eggs without shells. Near the mouth of Rio 

 Guachi several other wood rails were seen in mangroves and other 

 overhanging vegetation at the water's edge. They were very shy, 

 never appearing in the open, but skulking about among roots and low 

 bushes. 



Local name, Caracolera. 



