i i le,
Miiiiil
Ul i i i
f ' r i
CRYPTURUS M E S E R Y TH R U S .
CRYPTURUS MESERYTHRUS,
ffiED-BELLIED TINAMOU).
meserythrus
Tinamus pileatus
Sclater, P.Z.S. 1859, p. 392.
Salv. Ib is , 1861, p. 356.
Scl. e t Salv. P.Z.S . 1864, p. 371.
G. R . Gray, L is t o f Gallina} (1867), p. 09.
Lawrence, An n . Lyc. N . T . vii. p . 334.
E s oliváceo rufescens ; alarum remigibus nig ric an tib u s ; pileo to to n ig ric an te ciuereo ; su b tu s s a tu ra te ferrugineo-
ru fu s, m ed ialite r clarior, crisso pallide ciuuamomeo, h y p o chondriis e t pe cto re an tico obscurioribus, nigi-icautc ad um b ra tis :
remigibus su b tu s p a llide sehistaccis ; r o s tr i m a s illi plúmbea, man d ib u lâ a lb ican te : p edibus c laré co rylinis : long, to ta
9 '5 , alæ 5 '2 , ta rs i 1-5, ro s tri a ric tu 1 '1 5 .—Fcem. m a ri similis, scd crisso n ig ro pau lum variegato.
Hah. I n Mexico merid. (Boucard): G u atem a la (S a lvin ): V erag u â (Arcé): Pan ama (McLea n n a n ): Chepo (A rcé ).
It is somewffiat questionable, we admit, wliether this Tinamou,—the fourth and last of
the family m et with north o f the Isthmus o f Panama,— can be maintained as distinct from tlic
southern Cri/pturus pileatus, to which it is uiidoubtedly v e iy closely allied. But w e have
given a figure o f it, taken fi-om the type-specimcn now in the collection o f Messrs. Salvin and
Godman, in order to complete our account o f the Central American species o f tliis little known
group. Nine specimens o f this Tinamou from the various localities mdicated in the foregoing
iist, present but very trifling differences when compared together, except that tho younger birds
are not so bright below, and the females (so labelled) present some traces o f black markings on
the ci-issmn. They appear to differ from Brazilian skins o f Crypturus pileatus only in the darker
chest, darker flanks in contrast to the bright rufous belly, purer white throat and larger tarsi.
Salvin found this species quite common in the forests o f Vera Paz,— the same district as
that inhabited by Crypturus boucardi, with which it also agi-ees in habits and manners. On
several occasions its eggs were brought in hy the Indians o f Choctum, who arc very familiar
with the bird, and have a distinct name for it. The eggs are oval, alike at both ends, and
measure axis 1-7 in., diameter 1-3 in. Their colour is o f a uniform rich red chocolate-brown.
The only Mexican specimens o f this Tinamou we have met with arc those obtained by
M. Boucard at Playa Vicente on the Rio Tcscchoacan. It vvould appear to he more abundant
further south, having been obtained by Arcé in Veragua, although accidentally omitted fi-om
Salvin’s list o f tlie birds o f that country,* and by McLeannan on the Panama Railway. On the
Isthmus, the latter collector tells us it is very common, being found on the ground in the jungles,
and eating corn and rice iu captivity.
* l u Proc. Zool, Soc. 1807, p. 120.