344 PAEEEDiE.— CHAEADEIID^. 



This Jacana has a more extended range than the two species of the preceding genus, 

 and is found throughout Central America from Mexico to Panama, and also occurs 

 in Southern Texas, where it breeds, Grayson found it nesting in Tepic in Mexico ^^ 

 A. variabilis is probably resident throughout the greater part of its Central- American 

 range, having been recorded as breeding on the Escondido Kiver in Nicaragua by 

 Mr. Richmond ^^, and by von Frantzius in Costa Rica ^^. 



The species appears to be quite common, though often very shy. Jouy, for instance, 

 found it abundant on Lake Patzcuaro ^^, and from the statement of Leyland that it 

 was very common at Belize and on the Lake of Peten, but less so at Omoa, where it 

 arrived about September, we may infer that the bird is a migrant to some of the more 

 southern Republics. A. variabilis also inhabits the Greater Antilles, but the bird 

 from Haiti, named by Mr. Cory Parra violacea, may prove to be specifically distinct. 



In habits it is very active, running upon the leaves of the water-plants which 

 fringe the margins of the lakes and rivers and often raising its wings. Grayson 

 observes : — " I found a nest of this bird about the middle of June, in a lagoon near 

 Tepic ; it was placed upon the prostrate branch af a tree, just toucbing the water, in 

 rather an exposed position, as there seemed to be no attempt at concealment. The 

 nest is large and well formed, of coarse grass and water-moss, deep and rounded; the 

 eggs, three in number, were fiesh,, of an oval form, with reddish blotches at the larger 

 end, the shell very thin." 



Fam. CHARADRIID^. 



This family embraces the Plovers, Sandpipers, and their allies, and is one of the 

 most extensively represented of all the known groups of birds, being certainly the 

 most cosmopolitan in range. Many species are resident within the tropical areas of 

 both hemispheres ; but a large number breed in the Arctic and sub-Arctic Regions, 

 and migrate far to the south during the northern winter. lu a lesser degree the 

 southern species of Limicolse migrate northwards towards the Equator during the 

 southern winter. 



The Charadriidse have a palate of the most typical schizognathous pattern, and the 

 nostrils are also typically schizorhinal. Basipterygoid processes are always pi-esent, 

 and the dorsal vertebrae are opisthoccelous, but there are no lateral occipital fontanelles, 

 as in the Parridse. Otherwise in general characters the two families are remarkably 

 similar, though so different in outward appearance and habits. The nestlings also are 

 covered with down of a variegated pattern, and are able to run shortly after their 

 escape from the egg. The nest is a poor structure, consisting generally of a mere 

 depression in the ground, lined with a few twigs or grasses, and even this scanty linin"' 

 is often absent. The eggs are mostly four in number, pear-shaped, and are generally 

 placed in the nest point to point. 



