CEECISCUS. 323 



About sixteen species of Creciscus are known, of which five are found in Central 

 America. 



1. Creciscus jamaicensis. 



The Least Water-hen, Edwards, Gleanings, vi. p. 142, t. 278. fig. 2 \ 



Rallus jamaicensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 718 ^ 



Ortygometra jamaicensis, Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 198 ^ 



Porzana jamaicensis, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 455 *; A. 0. U. Check -list N. Amer. Birds, 



2nd ed. p. 79 ' j Scott, Auk, vii. p. 400 \ 

 Creciscus jamaicensis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 135^. 



Supra nigricans, maculis albis nigro marginatis ornatus ; alis magis brunnescentibus albo macolatis, secundaiiis 

 intimis dorso concoloribns ; remigibus reliquis sepiariis, primario primo albo anguste marginato ; 

 Cauda nigra ; pileo et facie laterali plumbescenti-nigris ; eollo postico efc laterali cum interscapulio 

 summo sordide castaneo-brunneis ; corpore subtus toto plumbeo-schistaceo ; crisso et hypochondriis imis 

 nigris albo fasciatis ; subcaudalibus uigris, cervino marginatis et terminatis ; subalaribus fuscescenti- 

 nigris, albo marginatis ; axiUaribus nigris albo minute maculatis : rostro nigro ; pedibus vivide flavioanti- 

 viridibus ; iride rubra. Long, tota circa 4'8, alaB 2-65, caudae 1"2, culm. 0-6, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. exempl. 

 ad. ex California. Mus. nostr.) 



Juv. adulto similis, sed magis olivascens, eodem modo albo maculatus ; collo postico rufescenti-brunneo : 

 subtus colore schistaceo paUidiore et gula albida distinguendus. (Descr. av. juv. ex Duenas. Mu5. nostr.) 



Hah. North America, north to Massachusetts, Northern Illinois, and Oregon ^, Florida ^. 

 — Guatemala, Lake of Duenas {Fraser^, Salvin^"). — West Indies, Jamaica^. 



This diminutive species is easily recognized by its size, blackish colour, relieved by 

 small spots and bars of white, leaden-grey under surface, and chestnut-brown mantle 

 and back of the neck. 



C. Jamaicensis seems to be very rare, even in the places where it breeds, and only 

 two instances of its occurrence in Central America have been recorded. Fraser 

 obtained one specimen on the Lake of Duenas, and we procured an immature bird in 

 the same district. 



2. Creciscus exilis. 



Rallus cinereus, Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxviii. p. 556 (nee Porphyria cinerea, Vieill.) \ 



Ortygometra cinerea. Gray, Gen. Birds, iii. p. 593 ^ ; Leot. Ois. Trinidad, p. 495 '. 



Porzana cinerea, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 456 ' ; 1873, p. 308 = ; Pelz. Om. Bras. p. 317 ' ; Tacz. 



Orn. Perou, iii. p. 322 '. 

 Ar amides cinerea, Gray, Hand-1. Birds, iii. p. 61 ". 

 Rallus exilis, Temm. PI. Col. v, t. 523 '. 

 Laterirallus exilis, Bp. C. R. xliii. p. 599 ". 



Porzana exilis, ScW. Mus. Pays-Bas, RaUi, p. 35 " j Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1866, p. 567". 

 Creciscus exilis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 138 ". 



Creciscus exilis vagans, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. x. p. 595 "; Richm. op. cit. xvi. p. 53C. 

 Creciscus vagans, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 139 ". 

 Gallinula ruficollis, Swains. Anim. in Menag. p. 349". 



41* 



