246 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 



which almost exactly matches the feather sent. I purposely chose 

 one that is not exactly the same, that there may be no confusion, 

 the larger feather being the one I had from you, the smaller one 

 from a specimen in the Swainson collection. As its name implies, 

 it is an inhabitant of Cayenne and adjoining parts, occurring in 

 Trinidad, but I should think nowhere nearer to this country ; it has 

 been brought over several times to the zoological gardens, and 

 probably you might see it there now. I can't imagine that it 

 should find its way to us unassisted, but if it should make good its 

 escape I daresay it might continue to exist for some weeks or months 

 in this country, except in winter. Aramides is a rather aberrant 

 genus of Rails, found only in the New World. I hope your friend 

 will record the capture, but I should not thing of regarding the 

 species as a British bird." Upon this I enquired at the Clifton 

 Zoological Gardens, but they had never had such a bird, and where 

 it could possibly have come from I know not. I would fain believe, 

 as it was a water bird, that it was a veritable straggler from America, 

 but the authorities quoted are too mighty to contend against. The 

 most curious circumstance, however, is, that some time after this, 

 occurred, I remembered a bird, exactly of the same size, though not 

 of such bright colouring, that stood in the hall of a friend of mine, 

 Edward Everett, Esq., with whom I dined regularly on the Sunday 

 for seven years. This bird faced me whenever I entered the hall, 

 and I never could make out of what species it was. Determining 

 to sift the matter, I enquired after the bird one day, which had been 

 taken away at the removal of the widow of my late friend to another 

 house, and on inspecting the bird surely enough under the wing 

 were the rufous and black feathers of Aramides Cayannensis ! But I 

 could gain no positive information about it, except that it had been 

 shot many years ago by some friend, and that Mr. Everett had had it 

 set up. But it was not considered of much value, as it was uncased 

 and therefore very dusty and tarnished in plumage. Mrs. Everett 

 kindly gave me the bird, which I still have, and all I can say is, 

 that it is a most curious coincidence that I should come across 

 these two specimens of this rail (if this duller specimen should turn 

 out to be of the same species as I think it is) which I have never 



