Habits and Hunting.--"Preeminently a species of dark, heavy rain forest, of shy and 
retiring habits, and disappearing when these conditions are destroyed. It is peed 
t ded from the Pacific slope of Central America north of western Costa Rica, 
quently unrecorde 0 Indeed, Anthony (MS) writes 
but might be expected to occur in northwestern Guatemala. 
that he feele convinced he flushed one in the rain forest near Finca £] Espino. Through- 
out Central America it is assiduously hunted for food, and is unquestionably decreasing 
near settled districts. Age is now well known, it is easily domesticated and becomes 
quite a pet." (Griscom.) It is reported that in areas where banana plantations are 
adjacent to the dense lowland forests, this bird is occasionally observed walking 
around in the low, lush, ground vegetation beneath the banana plants. 
This tinamou apparently occurs chiefly in the dense, dark tropical forest, and 
is usually solitary in habit. Like the others of its family, it is shy, wary, and is 
usually encountered under conditions which make shooting it very difficult. 
Its calls are flute-like, whistled notes, more frequently heard in the late 
afternoon and at dusk. 
Information from natives and other residents indicated that they nest during 
the veriod February to June, the four or five eggs being laid on the ground, usually at 
the base of a shrub or tree, They are larger than those of a domestic hen, more round, 
very glossy, and blue-green in color. This large, plump-breasted species provides good 
sport for the hunter who enjoys stalking his game. SBecause of its wariness and the 
density of the cover, the average shooter will obtain few birds during a day's hunt. It 
is reported that the most successful method of hunting is to locate them by their whistlea 
notes, then decoy them within range by imitating their calls. Dogs were said to have been 
used with only fair success. 
2. Tinamus major percautus Van Tyne 
Petéen Tinamou 
Other Nameg.-- 
Guatemalan: perdiz grande, Juan golola, I x mancolol (Maya) 
English: partridge, big tinamou 
Status.--Resident, reported to be fairly common in the dense forests of El Petén. 
Descrivtion.—In general appearance similar to the preceding subspecies, but paler on the 
underparts. a! 
“Like Tinamus major robustus Sclater and Salvin but much grayer above, especially 
on the neck and upver back. Paler below. White of throat more extensive. Breast much 
paler, and belly practically white in extreme examples. Crissum paler, less rufous. As 
2. m- Frobustus was the palest and greyest of all of the previously known Central American 
forms of the species, the new subspecies here described need not be compared with the other 
still darker subspecies of the southeast." (Van Tyne, 1935:8.) Eyes brown, upper mandibdls 
dark sepia, lower mandible paler, feet and legs bluish ash or leaden. 

Measurements.-~ 
sere (8) ert Female (4) 
ne, 210-235 (228.3 Wing, 225-247 (235.5) 
Tail, 84-105 (94.4) Tail, 91-103 (rai 
Tareus, 69.1-74 (71.1) Tarsus, 71.1-74.2 (72,3) 
Culmen from base (4), 35-38 (36.5) Culmen from base (2) 39-40 (39.5) 
Culmen from cere (4), 15.1-16.9 (15.8) Culmen from cere, 15.2-17.3 (16.3) 
(Above data from Van Tyne, letter) 
Weight.-- 
Male (4), 875-1093 (982.2) Female (3), 1106-1136 (1121.3) 
(Van Tyne, 1935:9) 
General Distribution,-—-El Peten, Guatemala, 
stribution in Guatemala.--Tropical Zone, presumad] 
northern Petén, P p y in the drier forests of central and 
20 
