49^ The IVater-fowl Family 



flanks, edge of wings, and thighs, black ; broad band of ochra- 



ceous buff on sides of back ; forehead, sides of head, last joint of 



wing, and lower parts, white. 

 Measurements — Length, 9 inches; wing, 5.50 inches; tail, 2.25 



inches; bill, 1.30 inches; tarsus, 2.10 inches; middle toe, 2.05 



inches. 

 Eggs — Four in number ; ground color, drab, marbled and streaked 



over their entire surface with wavy lines; measure 1.20 by i 



inches. 

 Habitat — Ranges from the United States of Columbia and Panama, 



north to the Rio Grande River, southern Horida, Cuba, and 



Hayti, and breeds throughout its range, though not known to 



do so in Florida. 



The jacana inhabits the tropics, straggling to 

 the valley of the lower Rio Grande. The marshes 

 along the coasts and bodies of water a short dis- 

 tance inland are their resorts, and they are found 

 in Mexico, Central America, and the neighboring 

 islands to northern South America. This bird 

 is very common on the West Gulf Coast, and in 

 May, 1 90 1, I found it abundant near Tampico, 

 frequenting most of the marshes, but more par- 

 ticularly where lily-pads and weeds covered the 

 surface of the water and high grass about the 

 edges afforded a hiding-place. There were always 

 several pair about these marsh ponds, chattering 

 and scolding, darting out of the long grass on to 

 the broad, flat leaves, feeding a few seconds, then 

 running back, noisy all the time, restless, flitting 

 their wings, paying but little attention to our 

 presence if we remained quiet. Should another 



