tffiSSXNQ IN WJSSVBiRN ISJilA. 13^ 



ioiiaJLj m ilu- open, one moment walking) along ima dignified 

 manner, pocking herd and theire amongst the gravel, the next for no 

 apparent reason running rapidly away, always with the tail erect, 

 rurt.'ly taking flight. 



They climb into and eareejo about the dense thorny thickets with 

 the greatest ease. After they have hidden, themselves in one of 

 these places of refuge, they are very difficult to dislodge. I 

 have even had to poke thern out with a long stick before I could 

 make them move. 



They breed from May to August. The nests are, as a rule, placed 

 in the branches of douse bushes or trees close to the water, 

 occasionally some distance away. The nest is generally an untidy 

 mass of weeds and rushes. Sometimes the nest is built amongst the 

 reeds and rank grass on the ground. 



The eggs, from four to seven in number, are subject to much 

 variation in shape, size, and colour ; these differences exist even in 

 eggs of the same clutch. Normally they are moderately broad ovals 

 in shape, measuring L\6 inches in length by about 1T8 in breadth ; 

 the ground-colour is a pale pinkish-stone, darker or lighter in 

 different specimens, beautifully marked, as a rule, with bright 

 reddish-brown and brownish-purple streaks and blotches. 



Some eggs arc almost devoid of markings. 



Deem, July. II. E. Barnes. 

 Neemueh, May to August. Do. 



Veh'ir Lake, Bombay, August. Do. 



Baroda, August to September. H. LitUe<Iaa\ B. A. 



908. THE BROWN AND ASHY CRAKE ; 

 OR THE BROWN RAIL. 



Porzaiai ffko'il, Sykes. 



The Brown Rail is a not uncommon permanent resident in 

 Guzerat and in some part of Rajpootaua. I do not think that it 

 occurs in Sind, and it is decidedly rare in the Deccau, but is more 



anion about Belgaum. 



I think they are permanent residents where they occur. Colon 'd 

 Butler procured eggs at Belgaum, and I found a nest containing 



