Tlie range o f Cabanis’ Tiger Bittern seems to be confined to the nortUcm portion o f the
great Central American Isthmus. M. Salló obtained specimens in tho neighbourhood o f
Orizaba in Southern Mexico. Mr. Joseph Leyland also found it hi Honduras, and tells us that
it is known to the Mahogany-cutters o f that district as the “ Barking Garling'' and is common
at Aloor River and Omoa, remaining at the latter place throughout the year. It also occurs at
Tigré Island in the Gulf o f Fonseca, as recorded by Mr. G. C. Taylor. In Guatemala on
several occasions it came under Salvin’s notice. In April, 1862, one was shot on tlic bank o f
a small stagnant pool near the village o f Juntecholol, on the track from Vera Paz to Pctcn.
It was by no means shy, and in all its actions shewed the deliberate movements so well Icnowu
in the common Bittern o f Europe {Boiauriis siellaris). On the Pacific coast the brackish and
salt-higoons in the neighbourhood o f Chiapam and Huamuchal were found to be a very
fa vomite resort for the bird, and hardly a day passed witliout one or more o f them being seen.
Soutliwards o f Guatemala we have not traced the occurrence o f this bird with certainty.
A s yet we have seen no specimens fiom Costa Rica, and ou the Isthmus o f Panama the southern
bird T. brasiliense seems to entirely supplant it. It follows, therefore, tliat the range o f T.
cabanisi extends over Southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, but that it may also occur
iu Costa Rica.
Our illustrations o f this species are taken from specimens in Messrs. Salvin and Godman’s
collection. The larger figure W'hich represents a bird in almost adult plumage is from the
specimen obtained at Juntecholol, as above mentioned. Tlie figure in the back-groimd which
shews the immature dress, is from an example shot at Chiapam, in September, 1862. In tlic
latter a few o f the feathers o f the adult plumage shew themselves.