8 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
tion of tibia about half as long as tarsus, also transversely scutellate, 
or ocreate (“booted”) both anteriorly and posteriorly; middle toe, 
without claw, about as long as tarsus or a little shorter, the outer toe 
about the same length, the inner toe a little shorter; hallux about as 
long as basal phalanx of middle toe, its claw much longer than the digit, 
(sometimes three times as long) slender, compressed, acute, straight 
or sometimes slightly recurved terminally; claws of anterior toes 
similar in form to that of hallux but much shorter (about as long as 
basal phalanx of middle toe); interdigital spaces completely cleft. 
Coloration-—Adults with head, neck, and chest uniform black 
(sometimes whole plumage, except primaries and secondaries black), 
the remiges (except tertials) yellowish green or greenish yellow, 
margined terminally with blackish, other portions chestnut-rufous, 
chestnut, or maroon. Young whitish or buffy beneath, grayish 
brown above, the remiges much as in adults. 
Rarige-—American tropics, except Lesser Antilles and Galapagos 
Archipelago. (Three species.) 
KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF JACANA. 
a. Frontal shield with posterior margin bifid; a well-developed rictal lobe or wattle. 
( Jacana.) 
b. Back, scapulars, wing-coverts, etc., bright hazel to chestnut; sides and flanks 
dark chestnut. (Jacana jacana.) 
c. Color of back, etc., lighter chestnut; size averaging larger. (Brazil, Guianas, 
CLE es oceaaiccndadmadsdasaenemome ste Jacana jacana jacana (extralimital).¢ 
cc. Color of back, etc., darker chestnut; size averaging smaller. “ (Venezuela.) 
Jacana jacana intermedia (extralimital).> 
bb. Back, scapulars, wing-coverts, etc., maroon to greenish black; sides and flanks 
black. (Colombia and Panama.)......--..------------ Jacana nigra (p. 15). 
aa, Frontal shield with posterior margin trifid; rictal lobe or wattle rudimentary or 
obsolete. (Asarcia.) (Jacana spinosa.) . 
b. Back, etc., more rufescent chestnut. 
c. Frontal shield smaller; color of under parts darker and duller. (Mexico.) 
Jacana spinosa gymnostoma (p. 12). 
ce. Frontal shield larger; color of under parts brighter. (Guatemala to western 
W522) 0h 10) ee eae Jacana spinosa spinosa adults (p. 9). 
bb. Back, etc., more purplish chestnut or maroon. (Greater Antilles.) 
Jacana spinosa violacea adults (p. 13). 
4 [Parra] jacana Linneus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, 1766, 259 (Brazil; based on Spur-winged 
Water-hen of Brazil Edwards, Gleanings, iii, 1764, 305, pl. 357); Gmelin, Syst. Nat., 
‘i, pt. ii, 1789, 707; Latham, Index, Orn., ii, 1790, 762.—Parra jacana Temminck, 
Cat. Syst., 1807, 177; Maximilian, Beitr. Naturg. Bras., iv, 1833, 786; Burmeister, 
Syst. Ueb. Th. Bras., iii, 1856, 394; Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1856, 282 (monogr.); 
Hudson Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1876, 103 (Argentina; habits); Sclater and Hudson, 
Argentine Orn., ii, 1889, 163.—Jacana jacana Elliot, Auk, v, July, 1888, 294, part 
(monogr.); Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxiv, 1896, 82, part (excl. in Se am 
media Sclater).—Jacana jacana jacana Hellmayr, Novit. Zool., xiii, 1906, 53.—Parra 
jassana Lichtenstein, Verz. Saug. und Végel Mus. Berlin, 1818 35.—P[arra] jassana 
Cabanis, in Schomburgk’s Reis. Brit. Guiana, iii, 1848, 759. 
b Parra intermedia Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1856, 282 (Venezuela: ex Verreaux 
manuscript); : , 
