72 MAxr.xL Of" rtiiLiPPiXE birds. 



and median winf^-eoverts uniform ochraceous-brown Yike tlie back, greater 

 series with blackish centers and white f recklings; innermost secondaries 

 like the back with broad black centers, the inner webs paler ochraceous- 

 brown thereby forming a broad longitudinal l)and on each side of the 

 back; alula, primary-coverts, and quills sepia-brown; edges of alula and 

 first primary white; under wing-coverts and axillars dusky brown with 

 a few white spots and bars; tail-feathers blackish, edged with dark 

 ochraceous-brown. (Compiled from Sharpe, Catalogue of Birds). "Bill 

 green, dusky on the culmen and at the tips; legs and feet green, with a 

 yellowish tinge, sometimes brownish olive, sometimes pale green or pale 

 olive-green; claws pale brown; iris normally red, sometimes briar-red, 

 crimson, or carmine." (Hume.) Length, 178; -culmen, 19; wing, 89; 

 tail, 42 ; tarsus, "28 ; middle toe and claw, 38. 



"Adult female. — Similar to the male in color. Length, 178; culmen, 

 16; wing, 94; tail, 43; tarsus, 28. 



"Young. — Is like the adult on the upper surface and is similarly 

 marked with black and white, but the general tone of the plumage is 

 rather more rufous; the head like the back; sides of face rufous-brown, 

 as also eyebrow; lores whitish; throat, breast, and abdomen dull white; 

 fore neck and chest rufescent, barred across with dusky ; lower flanks, vent, 

 and under tail-coverts black, l^arred with white. 'L-is orange-red or 

 reddish brown." (Hume.)" (t'^harpe.) 



0:3. PORZANA PLUMBEA (Gray). 



LEAD-COLORED CRAKE. 



Crex plumhea (Iray, in Giiflitli ed. Ciivier (1829), 3, 410. 

 Porzana tabuensis Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1894), 23, 111 (part). 

 Porzana plumbea Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 102; McGregor and Wor- 

 cester, Hand-List (1906), 16. 



Luzon (Meyer, McGregor) . New Hebrides. Australia. New Caledonia, New 

 Zealand. Chatham, vSamoa, and Fiji Islands. 



Adult {sexes alike). — Above including wings reddish clKHohite-brown ; 

 rump slightly darker ; head and neck blackish ; sides of face and under 

 parts dark slate-gray; chin and throat more or less whitish; under tail- 

 coverts black with white bars ; edge of wing, first alula ([uill, and first 

 primary white; under wing-coverts mottled with asliy brown and white. 

 Bill black ; iris and eyelids brick-red ; legs and feet light salmon ; nails 

 dark brown. Ten specimens from the vicinity of Manilai measure: 

 Length, 165 to 178; wing, 69 to 78 (average 75) ; tail, 36 to 44 (average 

 40) ; exposed culmen, 15 to 19 (average 16) ; tarsus, 23 to 26 (average 

 25) ; middle toe with claw, 29 to 32 (average 31). 



"Young. — Differs from the adult in having the throat wliite and the 

 center of chest and abdomen for the most part white." (Sharpe.) 



At times great numbers of this little rail are sold in the Manila markets, 

 but I have never taken a specimen in the ficM. 



