180 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
The measurements given are those adopted in the * Fauna 
of British India,’ expressed in inches and decimals, viz. :—- 
Length —From the tip of the bill to the tip of the longest 
tail feather. 
Tail—From the root of the tail on the underside to the tip 
of the longest feather. . 
Wing—The greatest distance from the bend of the folded 
wing to the tip of the longest quill, measured straight. 
Tarsus —The distance from the centre of the joint of the 
tarsus with the tibia to the base of the middle toe. 
Bill—tThe distance from the angle of the gape to the tip, 
measured straight. 
The rough keys do not pretend to be based on strictly 
scientific distinctions, or to hold good for other species than 
those on the Ceylon list. 
Order GRALLZA. 
Sub-order FULICARIA. 
Family Ramp. 
The Indian members of this order are divided into three 
sub-orders: Fulicariv, the Rails; Grues, the Cranes; and 
Otides, the Bustards. In Ceylon, however, we have no 
Cranes or Bustards, and the Fulicariz are confined to a single 
family Rallide, which comprises the true Rails, the Crakes, 
and the Water Hens. 
The Ceylon members of the family are all marsh birds, 
greatly given to skulking in reeds and thick grassy swamps. 
Owing to their fondness for keeping to cover, it is probablé 
that some of our rarer species are in reality far more generally 
distributed than would appear from the few recorded occur- 
rences. Rails are usually slender in build, and stand fairly 
high on the legs. The toes are long and narrow and not 
webbed, though all our species are good swimmers. The 
wings are short, and the flight awkward ; but in spite of this 
several species are migratory, and must cover long distances. 
The tail is short and constantly jerked wp and down as the 
birds walk. The bill is usually moderately stout, the nostrils 
linear and lying in a grove. 

