106 BULLETIN 186, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Porzana fusca oakeri, Deignan, Journ. Siam Soc. Nat. Hist. Suppl., 1936, p. 81 

 (Chiang Mai). 



This is another species that has been recorded only during the driest 

 months, when it may be found concentrated within small areas. At 

 Chiang Mai it was of rather rare occurrence from January 28 (1936) 

 to May 8 (1935) ; otherwise it is known only from Chiang Saen Kao, 

 where I took specimens January 14 and 18, 1937. 



The ruddy crake was observed in the same places as the other small 

 rails and, like them, was seen only at dusk when it came out to feed at 

 the edge of the marsh. 



A male had the irides orange-red ; the eyelids edged coral-red ; the 

 maxilla slate ; the mandible olive-plumbeous ; the feet and toes coral- 

 red ; the claws horny brown. 



The adult has the forepart of the crown, the sides of the head and 

 neck, the breast, and the upper abdomen vinaceous-chestnut ; the chin 

 and throat whitish ; the remaining upperparts dark olive-brown ; the 

 remaining underparts dark brown, narrowly barred with white. 



Judging by the variation in color exhibited by specimens in Wash- 

 ington, I question whether bakeri and erythrothorax be separable on 

 any character other than size. On this assumption, seven Thai spec- 

 imens (wing length 102.6 to 110.1 mm.) must be called bakeri, in spite 

 of Stuart Baker's assertion in the "Fauna of British India, Birds" 

 that erythrothorax is the form of all Indo-China and the Shan States. 



AMAURORNIS PHOENICURUS CHINENSIS (Boddaert) 



Chinese White-breasted Rail 



Fulica chinensis Boddaert, Table des planches enlumineez d'histoire naturelle, 

 1783, p. 54 ( China, ex D'Aubenton, pi. 896 ; type locality restricted to Hong- 

 kong, by Stresemann, Nov. Zool., vol. 20, 1913, p. 304). 



Amaurornis phaenicurus, Gyldenstolpe, Kungl. Svenska Vet-Akad. Handl., 

 1913, p. 68 (Ban Huai Horn). 



Amaurornis phoenicurus chinensis, Gyldenstolpe, Journ. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam, 

 1915, p. 235 (listed).— Deignan, Journ. Siam. Soc. Nat. Hist. Suppl., 1931, 

 p. 169 (Chiang Mai) ; 1936, p. 81 (Chiang Mai).— de Schauensee, Proc. Acad. 

 Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1934, p. 277 (Chiang Mai). 



Amaurornis phaenicura chinensis, Gyldenstolpe, Kungl. Svenska Vet.-Akad. 

 Handl., 1916, p. 148 ("Northern provinces"). 



Amaurornis phoenicura chinensis, Gyldenstolpe, Ibis, 1920, p. 763 ("Through- 

 out the whole country"). — de Schauensee, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 

 1928, p. 578 (Chiang Mai).— Riley, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 172, 1938, p. 79 

 (Ban Nam Khian, Muang Pai). 



This very common bird occurs throughout the year in all our prov- 

 inces. In addition to localities cited above, I have it from Ban Sop 

 Mae Chaem, Muang Fang, and Wiang Pa Pao and have seen in Stock- 

 holm eight examples taken at Khun Tan by Eisenhofer. 



The nok wak may be seen in the fields, in village gardens, along 

 tiny streams in the deciduous forest, but especially where great clumps 



