306 ORNITHOLOGY. 



spotted with white. On the side below and under the wing, light 

 reddish-brown ; bill and legs greenish. 



Hab. — Feejee Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. 



A species resembling Zapomia sjnlonota, Gould, but without spots 

 on any portion of the plumage of the upper parts, and having a strong 

 distinctive character in the brown color of the sides, which, when the 

 wing is closed, presents the appearance of a longitudinal band of that 

 color immediately below. Z. spilonota inhabits the Galapagos Islands. 

 The present is from the Feejees, and is readily to be distinguished. 



The genus Zaiwrnia is a peculiar group of small birds, nearly allied 

 to Porzana, Vieillot, and probably of very similar habits. The nearest 

 relatives of this group in North America are Porzana jamaiceiisis and 

 novehoracensis. 



We have only a note by Mr. Peale relating to this species : 



"A single specimen was obtained at Ovolau, one of the Feejee 

 Islands. It is without spots on the wings, but in other respects 

 answers to Mr. Gould's description." 



Mr. Peale regarded this bird as identical with Mr. Gould's Z. spilo- 

 nota, figured in Voyage of the Beagle, Birds, PI. XLIX, to which, 

 however, it is only generically related. 



This interesting little bird is represented in our plate of the natural 

 size. 



3. Genus FULTCA, Lmn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 257 (1766). 



]. FuLiCA ALAi, Peak. 



Fulica alai, Peale, Zool. U, S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 224 (first edition, 1848). 



Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXXVI. Adult. 



F. americana minor, rostro graciliore. lota profunde cinerea, capite et 

 collo prope nigris. Long. tot. 1 3 pollices. 



FoRiM. — Rather smaller than F. americana, and with the bill more 

 slender. Wing rather short ; second quill longest ; tertiaries long, 



