2 BIRDS OF BRITI^JH GUIANA. 



Neotropical Region, and is known to occur from Mexico through 

 Central and South America to Patagonia. 



The family comjirises about seventy species, seven of which 

 are represented in British Guiana, two being endemic. 



Genus TINAMUS Herm. 



Tinamns Hermann, Tab. AfRn. Anim. p. 164, 1783. Tvpe T. major 

 (Gmel.). 



This genus is distinguished from Cvf/ptnrus chiefly by the larger 

 size of the birds, the longer tails, and the roughness on the hinder 

 portion of the tarsus which is composed of hexagonal scales, while 

 the front aspect is smooth and transyerselj scutelhited. 



Fig. 2. — To illustrate the transverse sciitellatlons on the front part of 

 tarsi and the hexagonal scales on the hinder portion. 



Keij to the Species. 



a. Larger, wing more than 250 mm. ; 



upjser surface blackish, broadly barred ; 



crown of head black T. /no septentrionalis, p. 2. 



b. Smaller, wing less than 250 mm. ; upper 



surface olive, almost uniform ; crown 



of bead chestnut T. major, p. 4. 



1. Tinamus tao septentrionalis. 

 Northern Blt'e Tinamou. 



Tinamvs tao septentrional is Brabourne & Chubb, Ann. & Mag. Nat. 



HLst. (8) xii. p. 578, December 1913 (Plains of Cumana, Venezuela j. 

 Tinamus tao Temm., Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 497, part, 



1895 ; Beebe, Zoologica, i. p. 71, 1909 ; id. Our Search for a 



Wilderness, ])p. 321, 389. 1910. 

 Trnclnjpelvms canns (Wagb), Cab. in Schomb. Eeis. Guian. iii. p. 749, 



1848. 



Adult male. Head and nape black ; sides of face also bhick 



