Wii )
PORZANA MELANQPtLEA
PORZANA MELANOPHÆA,
(EED-VENTED CEAKE).
Tpecaha pardo obscuro
B a llu s melanophaius
Corethrura melanophtea
Crex lateralis
G allin u la lateralis
Oi'tygometra lateralis
Gallinula a lb fro n s
Aza ra , A p u n t. iii. p. 2 30, No. 37G.
Vieill. N . D. x sviii. p. 549, e t Enc. M e lb . p. 1064.
H a rtl. In d . Az. p. 24.
G ray , Gen. iii. p. 595.
L ich t. Doubi. p. 79.
M a s. B e itr. iv. p. 805.
B u rm . Syat. U eb . iii. p. 387.
Sw. An. in Menag. p. 338.
Fuscescenti-olivacea, alis e itù a e t dorso postico o b scurioribus : su b tu s alba, la te rib u s cervieis e t p e cto ris cum crisso
to to rufis ; b y pochrondriis albo n igroque tran s fa sciatis : ro s tro oliváceo apice flavicante ; p edibus pallido co rjlin ia : long,
to ta 6 '3 ,a læ 3 T , caudæ 1 5 , ta rs i 1-25, ro s tri a ric tu 0'8.
in Brasil, merid. (Burmeister)-. P a rag u ay a (A za ra ): Bolivia, Ch iquitos (D 'O rb ig n y ): Venezuela, Cumana
\Bea uperthuy), Caracas, (Levraud).
This well-known Crake appears to be widely spread over South America, as will he seen
by the list o f localities above given. It was first described by Azara, as an Inhabitant of
Paraguay, where, however, it does not appear to be very abundant. In the wood region of
South-Eastern Brazil it is certainly a common species, many specimens being met -with in the
ordinary sets o f birdskins sent from the vicinity o f Rio and Baliia. In the marshes o f this
district also the Prince 5 Ias o f Neuwied met with it, but gives us few particulars as to its
habits, merely mentioning that it has a light flight and that its flesh is good to eat.
During a I'ecent examination o f the specimens belonging to this family o f birds iu the
collection o f the Jardin des Plantes we found skins o f this species marked as having been
obtained by d’Orbigny in the province o f Chiquitos in Bolivia, and by M. 51. Beaupertliuy,
and Levraud in Venezuela. The extension o f its range so far northwards indicated by the
two latter localities is a new fact to us, and seems somewhat strange, when we consider that
the bird is not known to occur iu Guiana nor in any part o f the great basin o f the Amazon.
Our figure o f P . melanophcea is taken from a specimen in the collection o f Slessrs. Salvin
and Godman which is o f the ordinary Brazilian “ make” and is probably from Rio or Bahia.
I