224 ALLEN S NATURALISTS LIBRARV. 



Crex parva, Seebohm, Hist. Brit. B. ii. p. 457 ([£84). 

 Zapornia parva, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. JNIus. xxiii. p. 89 (1894). 



AdiQt Male in Breeding Plumage. — 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 blacl<: centres, the latter pale ochreous 

 along their inner webs, forming a longitudinal band on each 

 side of the back ; the rest of the wing-coverts nearly uniform 

 brown ; 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 ; fore- 

 head, a broad eyebrow, sides of face, and entire under 

 surface of body hght 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-coveits white, washed with 

 ochreous and crossed with blackish bars ; under wing-coverts 

 and axillaries uniform brov\ n, like the quill-lining ; bill green 

 tinged with red at the base; legs and feet green; iris deep 

 carmine. Total length, 7 inches; culmen, 07 ; wing, 4; tail, 

 2 ; tarsus, i"i5 ; middle toe and claw, i'6. 



Adult Female. — Similar to the male on the upper surface, 

 but a little more olive, the 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 ear-coverts ; cheeks and throat white ; remainder of 

 under surface, from the fore-neck downwards, pale vinaceous 

 isabelline ; 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 ; wing, 

 4'o5- 



Young. — Similar in general to the adult female, but having 

 the scapulars mottled with white bars ; under-surface of 

 body entirely white, as also the sides of 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 



