188 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
in number ; oval slightly pointed at one end ; ground colour 
drab or brownish-stone, sparingly blotched or spotted with 
chocolate or reddish-brown, and a few paler purplish markings. 
Average measurements 1°62 by 1-16. 
GALLICREX CINEREA (Blanford, Vol. IV., p. 176; 
Legge, p. 791). 
The Water Cock. 
Description.—Males in breeding plumage almost uniformly 
slaty-black, more or less tinged, with gray on the head, neck, 
and lower parts, and generally with a little white on the 
abdomen ; back and wings blackish-brown. 
Out of the breeding season males assume the same plumage 
as females, which have the upper parts dark brown, with paler 
brown edges to the feathers, except on the crown ; lower 
parts light brown, with fine wavy dark brown bars. 
In young birds the barring on the lower parts is less distinct, 
and sometimes absent. 
Bill and frontal shield, which is pointed behind, are red in 
males ; in the breeding season the shield of the male is 
lengthened into a horn; legs red; iris red. Females have 
yellowish bills, dusky green legs, and brown irides. 
Length: Males, 16°5; wing 8°5; tail 3; tarsus 3; bill 
from gape 1°55. Females, length 14; wing 7°0; tail 2°8; 
tarsus 2°6,; bill from gape 1°4. 
Distribution.—Found. locally in marshy ground throughout 
the low-country. Common in the damper plains of India and 
Burma, and extends through South-eastern Asia to Java, the 
Philippines, and Japan. 
Habits —A long-legged, long-toed rail, rather nocturnal in 
its habits, and keeping to cover in the thick grass of swamps 
and wet paddy fields. Mainly a vegetarian, and very good 
to eat. 
The nest is the usual large pile of grass among reeds or on 
floating vegetation. The breeding season is said to bein July or 
August. The eggs rather resemble those of the White-breasted 
Water Hen, but are browner and larger, averaging about 1°7 
by 1°27, 
