¡ 9 - — I
probably arises from difference o f sex. In the present bird we believe that the figure in tlic
back-ground represents the adult dress o f the female. The specimen from whicli the drawing
was taken was obtained by Salvin during his stay at Choctum, in the month o f February, 1862,
and turaed out to be a female on dissection. Another o f the same sex, and iu precisely siniilai-
plumage, was brought in by an Indian on the same occasion. Unfortunately we have not quite
such positive information respecting the male o f this species, hut our front figure is taken from
one o f the type-specimeiis obtained by M. Boucard at Teotalciiigo, in Jlarch, 1859, which is
marked as being o f this sex,—and is, vre believe, in nearly adult plumage. This specimen,
as well as the two former, is now in ilessrs. Salvin and Godman’s collection.
I f these suppositions are correct, the female o f Boucard’s Tinamou differs from the male iu
having the lower back, secondaries, and wing-coverts strongly banded across with light yellowish
brown; and the markings on the wing-coverts o f the male specimen figured in our jilate
are the remains o f the mottled plumage, whicli would Avholly disappear in the perfectly adult
bird. The correctness o f this view is strengthened by some specimens from Vera Paz being
nearly destitute o f markings on the wings and coverts, while others have them more strongly