always distinguished by the feathered patch on the base of the mandible, which we have 

 already spoken of. 



The earliest notice we have been able to find to this species, is that given by Dr. George 

 Such in the fifth number of the Zoological Journal, published in April, 1825. Dr. Such's 

 description is not very complete, but we have little doubt that it was intended for this bird, 

 and there can be no question that this is the species to which Wagler has applied Dr. Such's 

 name. In his " Contributions to the Natural History of Brazil" Prince Max. appears to have 

 described the present bird as Ardea lineata—SL name established by Gmelin upon BufiWs 

 Planche Enluminee No. 860, and which is therefore merely a synonym of Tigrisoma brasiliense. 

 Prof. Schlegel has proposed to follow this nomenclature, which, however, we cannot agree to, 

 more especially as Dr. Such's appellation has a priority of some years. 



In its mode of life, Prince Max. tells us, this Tiger-bittern much resembles the European 

 Botaurus stellaris, but is not quite so shy ; being not unfrequently observed in marshy districts 

 within a few hundred feet of human habitations. 



For the loan of the beautiful specimens of this species, from which our figures have been 

 taken, we are again indebted to the liberality of Mr. Alexander Fry. As was the case with 

 Botaurus pinnatus his examples of this Bittern were likewise obtained in the vicinity of the 

 Brazilian capital. 



We should mention that our front figure, which is half the size of life, represents an individual 

 not quite mature. In the perfectly adult bird the transverse markings on the head and neck 

 are less apparent, and the tail-bands probably wholly disappear. There is a single adult 

 mounted specimen of this bird in the Gallery of the British Museum, but it bears no locality 

 attached to it. 



The three American species of Tiger-bitterns may be shortly distinguished as follows : — 



A. Species gula media plumosa, lateraliter nuda. 



1. TlGEISOMA BRASILIEtfSE. 



Ardea brasiliensis, Linn. S. "N. p. 239 : Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 410. Tigrisoma brasiliense, Cab. in Scbomb. 



Guian. iii. p. 754 : Scl. P.Z.S. 1857, p. 268, et 1860, p. 72 : Lawr. Ann. Lye. K T. vii. p, 301 : Scl. 



& Salv. P.Z.S. 1867, p. 979 : Leotaud, Ois de Trin. p. 426. Ardea lineata, Gm. S. K p. 638 (ex Buff. 



PI. Enl. 860). Ardea soco, Wagl. Syst. Av. Ardea, sp. 30. Ardea tigrina, Grm. S. K i. p. 637 (ex 



Buff. PI. Enl. 790) : "Wagl. Syst. Av. Ardea, sp. 30«: Tscb. P. P. Aves, p. 50 : Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. 



p. 409. Tigrisoma tigrinum, Cab. in Scbomb. Gluian. iii. p. 753 ; Scl. P.Z.S. 1857, p. 268, 1858 p. 461, 



et 1860, p. 290. 

 Diagn. Mandibula ad basin nuda : pileo colloque supero castaneis. 

 Sab. Cayenne (Duffon) ; Guiana (Schomburgk) : Upper Amazon (Hauocwell) : E, Peru (Tschudi) : "Western 



Ecuador (Fraser) : Trinidad (Leotaud) : Panama (McLeannan). 



2. TlGRISOMA FASCIATFM, tab. XCII. p. 183. 



Diagn. Mandibula ad basin partim plumosa : pileo colloque supero aeneo-nigricantibus. 

 Hal. Soutb Eastern Brazil (Such, Max., Fry). 



B. Species gula omnino nuda. 



3. Tigrisoma cabanisi, tab. xlviii. p. 95. 



Sab. Central America, from Southern Mexico to Veragua.* 



* Arce bas recently transmitted a skin of tbis species from Veragua, thus denning its probable southern limit. 



Mat, 1869. 



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