336 BIRDS OF. SOUTH AFRICA. 



specimens from several different and widespread localities. It appears 

 in Mr. Chapman's collections, and is cited as from Natal by Mr, 

 Gurney. 



627. Parra Capensis, Smith, Zooi. s. Af., pi. 32. 



Forehead, yellow ; eyebrow, white ; crown of the head, a 

 narrow bar on each side of the base of the neck, sides of the 

 body, and tail, deep reddish-orange; back of the neck black ; 

 sides of the neck and breast, pale greenish-yellow ; chin, 

 throat, breast, belly, and under tail-coverts, white ; wings 

 and back, grey-brown ; bill yellowish-brown ; legs and feet 

 greenish-yellow. Length, 7" 3"'; wing, 3" 9'"; tail, 1" 10'". 

 Dr. Smith, loc. cit., mentions a single specimen killed near Algoa 

 Bay. It has also been procured in Natal. No specimen has, however, 

 come under my notice. 



The Sixth Family, RALLIDJE, or Rails, 



have the bill more or less long, with the culmen eometimes 

 advancing on the forehead, but always curved at the apex, 

 and the sides compressed ; the gonys usually, ascending ; the 

 rostrils lateral, and placed in a membranous groove ; the 

 wings moderate, and generally rounded ; the tail more or less 

 long and rounded ; the tarsi long and rather slender ; the 

 toes mostly lengthened and slender; the claws short, com- 

 pressed, and acute. 



The Sub-Family, RALLIN-ffi3, or Rails, 



have the bill more or less slender and long, with the culmen 

 keeled and curved at the apex, and the sides compressed ; the 

 nostrils lateral, with the opening placed in a membranous 

 groove ; the wings moderate, with the first quills usually 

 graduated ; the tail mostly • short, and rounded ; the tarsi 

 long and slender ; the toes more or less long and slender, 

 and free at their base. 



Genus RALLUS, Linnaeus. 



Bill longer than the head, slender and straight, with the 

 culmen slightly curved from the front of the nostrils, and 

 the sides compressed to the tip, which is obtuse, and slightly 

 emarginated ; the gonys long and slightly curved upwards ; 

 the nostrils placed in a merabranovis groove, which extends 

 lor two-thirds the length of the bill, with the opening exposed 

 and linear ; wings short, with the second and third quills 

 equal and l9nge8t; tail short and rounded; tarsi moderate, 



