OETALIS. 281 



Eab. North America, Southern Texas i^.— Mexico {Wagler 1 2 ; Deppe & ScUede 20 21), 

 Matamoros (McCall 23), Sierra Madre above Ciudad Victoria, Aldama, Valles, San 

 Luis Potosi, Vera Cruz {Richardson '^^), Tampico {le Strange '', Eichardson^^), San 

 Jose Acateno 27, Plan del Rio is [Ferrari-Perez), Guanajuato, Guadalajara (Z)M^es 25), 

 Hacienda de los Atlixcos {F. B. G. ^^), Jalapa [de Oca \ Edge i^), Cuestade Misantla, 

 Vega del Casadero, La Antigua (M. Trujillo i^), Playa Vicente {Boucard % Cordova, 

 Vera Cruz (Salle ^^^, Sumichrast^^ i*), Orizaba i^ Uvero 1*, Chimalapai*, Guichi- 

 covi, Tehuantepec 11 (Sumichrast), Teapa, Tabasco {H. E. Smith i^), Yucatan i^ ^3^ 

 Meco LIS "18^ Holbox Li^nis^ Cozumel L^^, Mugeres L is (Gaumer), Merida 

 (Schott 26) ; British Honduras [Leyland ^^), Belize [Blancaneaux ^^) ; Guatemala 

 {Skinner^), Coban (0. S}^); Honduras {Taylor '^^), Omoa {Leyland^), San Pedro 

 {Whitely^). 



The races, or so-called subspecies, of 0. vetula do not differ sufficiently to warrant 

 their specific separation. Yucatan specimens are rather paler than those from most 

 other localities, and some slight differences in the colour of the plumage and in size 

 may occasionally be observed in a large series throughout its range. 



The species is found in Texas, on the Lower Rio Grande, and southward through 

 Mexico to Honduras, where it is strictly a forest bird and is very common. 

 Dr. Gaumer ^^ says that 0. vetula spends most of its time in the trees feeding on 

 fruit, flowers, and tender leaves, and that its neutral green plumage renders it almost 

 invisible. When disturbed it jumps to the ground and, having ascertained the nature 

 of the danger, gives one or two long leaps and again mounts upon a limb, thence 

 hopping rapidly from branch to branch until out of sight. The cry is harsh and 

 sonorous and may be constantly heard in the early morning or late evening. The 

 native name " Chacha " or " Chachalaca," which seems to be applied also to other 

 species of the genus, is derived from this note, which is frequently audible at a long 

 distance. Dr. Gaumer says that the trachea of the male is a great trumpet-like 

 instrument. It is described by him as prolonged beneath the skin of the breast and 

 abdomen almost to the anus, whence it returns and enters the chest at the usual place ; 

 this peculiarity is not found in the female. In Texas the birds are said to nest in the 

 heaps of leaves accumulated under the mesquite-bushes. The eggs are from three to 

 five in number, of a creamy-white colour. / 



4. Ortalis leucogastra. 



Penelope leucogastra, Gould, P. Z. S. 1843, p. 105 ^ 



Ortalida leucogastra, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 224 = ; P. Z. S. 1870, p. 539 ^ 

 Ortalis leucogastra. Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 514*; Handb. Game-Birds, ii. p. 247 '. 

 Penelope albiventer, Lesson (nee W.agl.), Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 174 ' ; Gould, Voy. Sulph., Zool. p. 48, 

 t. 31'. 

 BIOL. CEKTR.-AMEE., Avcs, Vol, III., February 1903. 36 



