They apparently breed during the rainy season as their gonads showed no 
enlargement during April. 
This species is one of the most sought after game birds as it is large enough 
to provide several pounds of meat. In areas of virgin jungle it is not so wary but that 
a good hunter equipped with a modern rifle or shotgun can secure several during the day's 
stalking. 
The relative abundance of this species depends largely upon the extent to which 
the virgin tropical forests are cleared, In forest areas of the limited extent surrounded 
by agricultural lands, the combination of changes in environment and increased bunting 
pressure soon makes the pavas few in number and wary in habit. In undisturbed forest, 
however, hunting pressure alone apparently does not endanger their survival. 
22. Ortalis vetula vetuja Wagler 
Oaxaca Chachalaca 
r Names.-- 
Guatemalan: chacha, chachalaca, faisan 
English: brush pheasant 
Status.--This chachalaca is reported to be a common resident within its range. 
ription.--Chachalacas are about the size of a small pheasant (length about 412-649 mn. ): 
gexes @like, plainly colorec, brownish above, more grayish, paler beneath; head moderately 
crested, upper throat red,-bare except for a narrow longitudinal median strip of feathers: 
tail longer than wing: strongly rounded, the twelve feathers broad, with rounded tips much 
darker than back. Juvenile specimens are similar to the adults in general appearance. 
Subevecific characteristics of coloration are as follows: sides of upper throat olive, 
tins of tail feathers dull buffy brown, not bicolored; lower abdomen dark buffy brown: 
wing less than 230 mn. 
Measurement s.-- 
Male (8) Female (5) 
Wing, 177-202 (192.8) Wing, 181-195 (186.6) 
Tail, 197-225 (214.3) Tail, 208-227 (215.6) 
Tarsus, 58-65 (62) Tarsus, 54-60 (56.6) 
Exposed culmen, 24-28 (25.9) Exposed culmen, 22-25 (23.4) 
General Distribution.--Southeastern México (but not Yucatan Peninsula) from Vera Cruz and 
northern Oaxaca south on the Caribbean slope of Guatemala (but not the coastal plain) and 
parts of Belize (British Honduras) to about latitude 16° HR. 
Distribution in Guatemala.--Tropical Zone forests of Alta Vera Paz. 
Records.--Panzée, May 16-18, 1947; it is reported by George Brol to be common near Finca 
San Francisco, below Cotzal, El Quiché. 
In literature: Sierra de las Minas (Griscom, Ibis, 1935): Sepacuite, Secanquim, 
and Finca Chama, all in Alta Vera Paz (Griscom, 1932:101); Cobdn (Grant). 
Habits and Hunting.--See the comments for the subspecies leucogastra. | 
23. Ortalis vetula intermedia Peters 
Petén Chachalaca 
Other Names.-- 
Guatemalan: chacha, chachalaca 
ixbach (Maya) 
Status.--The Petén chachalaca is reported to be fairly common along the forest borders 
and in the more open woodlands of its range. 
Description.-Similar to the subsvecies vetula, except that the tips of the tail feathers 
are light grayish brown; wing averaging slightly shorter, tail slightly longer, abdomen 
light brown. 
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