25. ZAPOENIA. 91 



Rallus minutus, Dixon, Ibis, 1882, p. 578 (Biskra) ; Seeb. Ibis, 1883, 



p. 27 (Caucasus). 

 Crex parva, Heeb. Hist. Br. B. ii. p. 4o7, pi. 23 (1884) ; id. Ibi«, 



1892, p. 2« (Heligoland, April). 

 Ortygometra parva, Git/l. Avif. Ital. p. VA (1886) ; id. op. cit. 1st 



llesoc. p. 544 (1889) ; Ilartcrt, Ibis, 1892, p. 593 (E. Prussia). 

 Ortvgometra pusiUa {tiec P(dl.), lieic/ie?i. Si/st. Verz. Vog. Deiitschl. 



p". 44(1889). 

 Ortvgometra pygmaea, Madardsz, Amdell. TJng. Vogelf. p. 113 



(1891). 



Adult male in hreeding-jylumarje. General colour above ochreous 

 brown, varied with black centres to the feathers and a few white 

 spots ; the scapulars and innermost secondaries ochreous brown 

 with black centres, the latter pale ochreous along their inner web, 

 forming a longitudinal band on each side of the back ; the rest of 

 the wing-coverts nearly uniform bro%vn ; bastard-wing, primary- 

 coverts, and quills sepia-brown ; lower back, rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts darker and with more black than the rest of the back, the 

 feathers being black edged with brown ; tail-feathers also black 

 edged with brown ; hinder crown uniform reddish brown like the 

 hind neck ; forehead, a broad eyebrow, sides of face, and entire 

 under surface of body light slaty grey ; sides of breast ochreous 

 brown like the sides of the neck ; flanks almost entirely uniform, 

 excepting for a few white bars, and dusky on the lower thighs and 

 vent ; under tail-coverts white, washed with ochreous and crossed 

 with blackish bars ; under wing-coverts and axillaries uniform 

 brown like the quill-lining : " bill green, tinged with red at the 

 base ; legs and feet green ; iris deep carmine " {H. Seebohm). 

 Total length 7 inches, culnien 0'7, wing 4, tail 2, tarsus 1*15, 

 middle toe and claw 1-6. 



Adidt female. Similar to the male on the upper surface, but a little 

 brighter and more olive ; brown colour of the head extending in a 

 narrow line to the base of the bill ; lores hoary grey ; sides of face 

 and a broad eyebrow grey ; a faint tinge of brown on the car- 

 coverts ; cheeks and throat white ; remainder of under surface, 

 from the fore neck downwards, pale vinaceous isabeUine ; thighs 

 clear ashy, as also the lower flanks, which have dusky bars and 

 white edges to the feathers ; vent and under tail-coverts barred 

 with black and white, the latter tinged with ochreous buff. 

 Total length 7 inches, culmen 0-65, wing 4'05, tail 22, tarsus 1-2, 

 middle toe and claw 1G5. 



Youm/. Similar in general to the adult female, but having the 

 scapulars mottled externally with white bars ; under surface of 

 body entirely white, as also the sides of the face and eyebrow ; the 

 breast more or less varied with the remains of dusky edgings to the 

 feathers; the thighs distinctly banded with brown and white ; the 

 greater coverts, primarj-coverts, and quills with more or less distinct 

 white spots at the tips. 



Hab. Central and Southern Europe ; accidental in the Faeroes, 

 Great Britain, and also Southern Sweden ; East to Central Asia, 

 wintering in X.W. India and X.E. Africa. 



