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The taxonomy of the polytypic and wide-ranging Gray-necked Wood-rail, Aramides cajaneus is reviewed, based on external morphology and voice. Throughout its distribution, there is extensive plumage variation, much of it taxonomically uninformative. However, through three informative plumage characters, as well as morphometric and vocal variation, three phylogenetic species were identified within what is today known as Aramides cajaneus, all of which already had available names: Aramides albiventris Lawrence, 1868, from southern Mexico to northeastern Costa Rica, Aramides cajaneus (Statius Müller, 1776) (sensu stricto), from southwestern Costa Rica to Argentina, and Aramides avicenniae Stotz, 1992, from a small section of the coast of southeastern Brazil. Aramides albiventris presents extensive plumage variation, but with no geographic structure. The song of Aramides cajaneus and Aramides avicenniae is strikingly and completely different from the song of Aramides albiventris. A previously unnoticed parapatric pattern of distribution of Aramides cajaneus and its congener Aramides saracura in southeastern Brazil is described, and we clarify that the name Aramides plumbeicollis, included in the synonymy of Aramides albiventris, was first made available in 1892, rather than in 1888 as is widely referred. In addition, plumage variation in Aramides ypecaha, Aramides wolfi, and Aramides mangle is discussed.

We describe the nest and eggs of the Chestnut-headed Crake (Anurolimnas castaneiceps) based on observations of two nests found in the border of the Lliquino River, Pastaza Province, Ecuador. Nests were found in June and December with birds incubating eggs. Both nests were on fallen logs covered by vines and epiphytes in natural small gaps. They were open cups and built principally with dead leaves. The coloration of the eggs was pinkish white with scattered brown spots, similar to other Amazonian rails and crakes. The nests were similar in structure to those of wood rails (Aramides spp.) suggesting a close relationship between Anurolimnas and Aramides.

FOR many years I have been gathering all specimens I could of the splendid, great Wood Rails of the genus Aramides with the hope of some day monographing the group. Unfortunately I have as yet been unable to bring together sufficient material from South America to attempt to include in review the forms of that country. I now have, however, a complete set of the species and subspecies of Middle America from Panama north to the northern limit of the genus in southern Mexico. A critical study of this material together with a number of skins kindly lent me by the United States National Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Bureau of Biological Survey of Washington, which include the types of Ararnides plumbeicollis Zeledon, A. axillaris Lawr. and A. albiventris Lawr. has induced me to publish now a short synopsis of the forms of Aramides occurring north of Panama. My views expressed in the following pages will be found to differ a little from those of recent authors, such as Sharpe in Vol. XXIII Catalogue of Birds in British Museum 1894 and Biologia CentraliAmericana, Aves, 3, 1897-1904, and I describe as new one form from Mexico, allowing to the region here treated three species and two additional subspecies. In all species of Aramides the sexes are alike in color and there are but slight individual or seasonal differences, apart from those caused of the wholly mechanical processes of fading and wear. Some species have a juvenile plumage, still worn when the bird is nearly full grown, that is quite different in color from the livery of the adults A. axillaris and its allies. Other species, apparently (I have seen but one young individual of A. albiventris plutmbeicollis, and none at all of the other subspecies of albiventris *or of A. cajanca) do not have a young plumage that is very distinctly different in color from that of the adults.