FAMILY RALLIDAE 355 



are of this race, which indicates a range extending into western 

 Veraguas in this river valley. To the north this form ranges on the 

 Caribbean slope to northeastern Nicaragua. 



Richmond (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 16, 1893, pp. 528-529), 

 who found these rails common on the Rio Escondido, in southeastern 

 Nicaragua, described nests as globular, with a small opening in one 

 side, slightly elevated above the ground in grass, built of grass, and 

 lined with similar materials. Three sets of 3, 4, and 5 eggs in the 

 U. S. National Museum that he collected on May 30, July 18, and 

 August 26, 1892, are subelliptical to slightly oval, with a very slightly 

 roughened shell without gloss. The ground color is light creamy 

 white, marked with small spots of cinnamon and cinnamon-brown, 

 varied to lilac, scattered over the eggs, but more abundant at the 

 larger end. The range of measurement is as follows: 27.3-28.9 X 

 20.6-21.8 mm. A nest found by Huber (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil- 

 adelphia, vol. 84, 1932, p. 209) at Eden in northeastern Nicaragua, 

 was similar in form and location, and in color and marking of the 3 

 eggs, which, with measurements of 28.1-32.5x20.9-22.0 mm., were 

 slightly larger. 



A recently hatched young bird, received from the Gorgas Memorial 

 Laboratory, taken from a nest a little over half a meter from the 

 ground, found near Almirante, March 28, 1962, came preserved in 

 alcohol. The down appears black over the entire body. The bill is 

 pale brownish white, with an irregular band of black around the 

 center, anterior to the nostril. 



In an occasional specimen the crown is washed strongly with 

 cinnamon-brown so that the appearance is that of L. a. albigularis. 

 On close examination, however the feathers of the loral area, and 

 around and over the eye are gray either wholly or on the partly 

 concealed basal area. 



LATERALLUS EXILIS (Temminck): Gray-breasted Rail; 

 Cocalequita Pechiceniza 



Rallus exilis Temminck, Nouv. Rec. Planch. Col. Ois., livr. 88, 1831, pi. 523. 

 (Cayenne.) 



Small, with gray crown, and a broad reddish brown band on hind- 

 neck. 



Description. — Length 135 to 145 mm. Adult (sexes alike), crown 

 gray, paler on sides of head, sides of neck, and breast ; a broad band 

 of bright reddish brown from the back of the head and the hind- 

 neck down to the upper back; back, scapulars, and wing coverts 



