FAMILY JACANID^E 



greater wing coverts white; throat white; neck 

 and breast yellowish buff streaked with blackish ; 

 abdomen white; the sides barred with black; 

 tail variegated with black, rufous and white. 

 Bill very long and perfectly straight; legs rather 

 short; eyes rather high and far back on head. 



A migrant apparently not common in the 

 Canal Zone. It is a bird of inland marshes, 

 which rises with a swift zigzag flight and rasping 

 call when flushed. The four lengthwise buff 

 streaks on the back are conspicuous in flight. 

 Recorded from a grassy marsh at Mindi in 

 October, by Jewel. 



14. Family JACANID^E 

 The Jacanas 



A family of small birds showing relation- 

 ship to the plovers in their structure, but 

 having a superficial resemblance to the rails 

 in their build, in their very short tail and 

 greatly elongated toes, which with their 

 small size and light weight enable them to 

 walk over the softest mud and the leaves of 

 water lilies that float on the surface. Their 

 wings bear a sharp spur. The family consists of 

 but few genera, only one of which is American. 



i. Jacana nigra (Gmelin) 

 Black Jacana. "Gallito de Cienegas" 



Length. Male, 190 mm. (7.50 in.); tail, 40 

 mm. (1.60 in.). Female, 255 mm. (10.00 in.); 

 tail, 48 mm. (1.90 in.). 



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