184 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
abdomen barred black and white. In young birds the gray 
of the lower parts is replaced by buff. 
Bill short and comparatively stout, green in colour ; iris 
in adults red, in young birds reddish-brown ; legs and feet 
green tinged with yellow ; toes long. 
Length about 7°5; wing 3°5; tail 1°75; tarsus 1-1; bill 
from gape °7. 
Distribution —May be looked for in swamps throughout the 
low-country. Only recorded a few times from, Ceylon, but 
largely overlooked owing to its small size and skulking habits. 
On one circuit in the Southern Province I came across five 
specimens. Most birds are probably migratory, but some may 
possibly be found breeding. 
Found scattered throughout India and Burma in suitable 
localities, its range extending through Eastern Asia. Most 
birds are migratory, but some reside in India all the year 
round. 
Habits —This is smallest of our rails, being no larger than a 
slim quail. It runs in and out of the rushes round the edges 
of swamps, keeping much to cover and being hard to flush. 
The nest is the usual pad of rushes, grass, &c., on floating 
vegetation or amongst swampy grass. The eggs are five to 
seven in number, pale olive, rather streakily marked with 
darker brown, and measure about 1°16 by °87. 
RALLINA SUPERCILIARIS (Blanford, Vol. IV., p. 167 . 
RALLINA EURYZONOIDES (Legge, p. 772). 
The Banded Crake. 
(Plate I., fig. 1.) 
Description.—Head, neck, and upper breast chestnut ; 
chin and throat whitish ; remainder of upper plimage dark 
brownish-olive ; rest of lower parts boldly barred black and 
white. 
An old female in the Museum collection resembles the male, 
another, probably younger, has the crown and nape olive- 
brown. 
Young birds are brown on the head, neck, and breast. 
