pak 
Vol. IV 
90) BANGS —NEW CUBAN BIRDS 
The plumage of the upper parts is of a slightly darker brown, and it is 
very probable that a large series would show that the West Indian 
breeding race averages decidedly smaller than the Continental. 
Measurements of Type: — wing, 114; tarsus, 38; middle toe with claw, 
51; exposed culmen, 19.5 mm. 
Limnopardalis maculatus inoptatus subsp. nov. 
Type, adult male, M.C. Z., no. 61,101, from near Jaruco, Province of 
Havana, Cuba, shot by a market gunner, Feb. 14, 1913, skinned by 
V. J. Rodriguez. 
This form differs at once from L. maculatus maculatus. The under 
parts are in general much darker, since the black markings on the feathers 
are larger and the white spots smaller. This is true of the upper parts as 
well. The rump is entirely unspotted with white, and the longer under 
tail coverts have narrow black tips. The wings are much less spotted, 
and all the spots are much smaller, than in the typical form. Compared 
with the type of L. m. insolitus Bangs & Peck from British Honduras, it 
differs strikingly in having a white throat like the South American bird. 
The brown of the upper parts is much lighter, again more like the typical 
race. 
Measurements of Type:— wing, 122; tail, 48; tarsus, 41; exposed culmen, 
50 mm. 
This bird is excessively rare in Cuba. Besides the type, we have 
another example taken many years ago by Prof. Carlos de la Torre, 
and this was the only one he ever secured. It came from near 
Havana. The species is now in immediate danger of being extermi- 
nated by the mongoose which is already abundant about Havana 
and which will probably spread over the whole island. So far as 
could be learned, the Spotted Rail (Spanish Gallinuela escribano) has 
not been taken except in the region near Havana and in the Zapata 
Swamp. It is unknown to the Cuban hunters of most of the island. 
There is one mounted specimen in the Gundlach Museum of the 
Institute of Secondary Instruction in Havana. The Spotted Rail 
of Jamaica has undoubtedly become extinct, without a single 
example having been preserved, so far as I am aware. Through 
