106 INDIAN SPORTING BIRDS 



Malayan Banded Crake. 



*Ballina fasciata. 



The Malayan banded crake can easily be distinguished from 

 the rest of our rails with zebra-barred flanks by its bright red 

 legs ; other rails with legs so coloured have not the black-and- 

 white side-stripes. The present species is of a pretty uniform 

 reddish-brown in front and above, and is a smaller bird than the 

 banded crake, only measuring about nine inches. 



As its name implies, it is a Malayan bird, but extends to 

 Karennee, and in the other direction to Celebes. It is found in 

 Tenasserim, but not commonly, and likes the vicinity of culti- 

 vation if this provides suitable cover ; rice fields are favourite 

 haunts when surrounded by scrub, but not when situated among 

 dry forest without undergrowth. 



Andamanese Banded Crake. 



Ballina canningi. 



In many cases the Andamanese representatives of Continental, 

 Indian and Burmese birds can hardly be called more than local 

 races, but some, like the present bird, are very distinct. 

 Although its black-and-white barred sides and brow^n general 

 colour show its relationships at once, it is far bigger than our 

 other two banded crakes, being about as large as the common 

 grey partridge. It stands high on its legs, and has the bill and 

 toes comparatively short, and the tail over three inches long, so 

 that its proportions are less typically rail-like than usual. The 

 brown of its body is deep rich mahogany-red, and the black- 

 and-white bars of the sides and under-parts are very clear and 

 striking ; moreover, although the feet are only olive-green, the 

 bill is of the clearest apple-green, and looks like jade. Thus, 

 even if occurring on the mainland, this handsome crake would 

 be noticeable not only among other members of the rail family, 

 but among birds in general. 



In its native islands the crake frequents forests, and is not 



* Porzana on plate. t Eiirijzoiui on plate. • 



