1886.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 31^9 



Schlegel {torn, cit., p. 21) characterizes P. erythrotkorax, from Japan, 

 as " absolutely similar to Eallina fusca, but of a much larger size," and 

 Lord Tweeddale (Tr. Z. S., ix, 1875, p. 230 ;. Oru. Works, p. 393) says 

 that it "only differs in being considerably larger." Swinhoe (P. Z. S., 

 1871, p. 414) states that the "pectoral red does not extend so low down 

 as in P. fusca,'^ a character which Lord Tweeddale says is "a sign of 

 immaturity in the South-Asiatic form." Swinhoe's remarks evidently 

 refer to Chinese and Formosa examples, and agree perfectly with two 

 specimens before me, oue, a male, from Shanghai (TJ. S. l^at. Mus. No. 

 85754), the other, a female, from near Hong-Kong (No. 86135), both ob- 

 tained by Mr. Jouy ; but these birds certainly show no sign of imma- 

 turity. The two Japanese specimens before me are certainly also quite 

 adult, and agree exactly with those from China. I consequently con- 

 sider the fact of the entire abdomen up to the breast being gray, 

 slightly washed with brownish, as a good character of the present form. 

 The colors are less saturated than in the Philippine specimens ; chin 

 and throat are distinctly and definitely white, and the under tail-coverts 

 are pure blackish gray barred with white. As will be seen from the 

 subjoined measurements, the Chinese and Japanese birds are consid- 

 erably larger. The Japanese specimens agree precisely with those from 

 China in regard to coloration, and although the wings in the two speci- 

 mens in question are a trifle shorter, there can be no general difference 

 in regard to size, for the average length of the wing of seven Hakodadi 

 males, as measured by Captain Blakiston and noted in his MSS., is 115™"^, 

 or exactly the same as in the two Chinese specimens. The average total 

 length of the same number of Japanese birds I find to be 236™°^. It 

 will be seen that the species is not subject to so grfeat variation in re- 

 gard to size as is usually reported. It should in this connection be 

 borne in mind that the larger specimens said to have been collected at 

 the Amur by Professor Eadde, and which are referred to by Mr. 

 Schlegel and Lord Tweeddale, do not really belong to the present spe- 

 cies, but to the widely different P. paylmJU, as shown by Professor Bog- 

 danow. 



Measnre7nents. 

 1. PORZANA ERYTHEOTHORAX. 



' Total length, 9 inches (229"""). Eyes red. 

 2. POEZANA EUSCA. 



77007 



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Philippines 94 



32 



36 



