RALLIN^. 727 



coverts with a few white marks ; throat whitish ; cheeks, fore- 

 neck, breast, and upper abdomen brownish ashy ; lower belly 

 reddish brown ; flanks black with white bands ; lower tail-coverts 

 mixed white rufous and black ; quills and tail dusky brown, the 

 feathers of the last edged paler. 



Bill dull red, dusky on the culmen and tip ; irides red brown ; 

 legs and feet dirty pale green. Length 10^ inches ; extent 15 ; 

 wing 4^ to 5 ; tail 2 ; tarsus If ; bill at front 1^ ; depth nearly ^. 



This Water-rail differs, according to Mr. Blyth, from R. 

 aquaiicus of Europe, which it otherwise very closely resembles, 

 in being larger, with a conspicuously thicker bill and legs : the 

 dark streak below the eye, and the less pure hue of the lower 

 parts are also mentioned as distinctions by that Naturalist. I 

 am doubtful of its being perfectly distinct, but shall retain it as a 

 separate species for the present. 



It appears to be rather a rare bird in Central and Southern 

 India, and has chiefly been found during the cold season, being 

 probably migratory like some of the other Rails. It frequents mar- 

 shy ground, generally in rather thick covert. I have only seen it 

 myself in Northern India, and Adams states that it is common in 

 the Punjab. Its distribution elsewhere is not recorded, but it 

 probably (if distinct) will be found to occur throughout C^hina 

 and North-eastern Asia. Schlegel has H. japonicus, given as a 

 variety of aquaticns by Bonaparte, which is not improbably, the 

 same as our bird. 



Rallus aquations, Lin., is found throughout Europe and the 

 greater part of Asia, and there are many other true Water-rails 

 in different parts of the world, especially in America. Two 

 groups from the New Continent are named Rufirallus and 

 Laterirallus by Bonaparte. 



A group of small African Rails appears to deserve separation, and 

 has received from Swainson the generic name of Corethrura. The 

 birds of this genus have very short tails. Rougetius, Bonaparte, 

 constitutes another African group. The Land-rail of Europe, or 

 Corn-crane, Crex pratensis, is a very distinct type, well known 

 (by its call at all events) in Britain. It is stated to have occurred 

 in Northern India, and is common in Affghanistan. A very distinct 



