v RALLIDAE 247 
these markings are restricted to the sides and abdominal region, 
and in H. brachypus, where the belly is plain. 
Cabalus modestus and Nesolimnas dieffenbachi of the Chatham 
Islands are curious little brown forms with no visible tail, closely 
allied to the next genus, which they resemble in being flightless, 
and apparently in general habits. Ocydromus contains the Wood- 
Hens, or Weka Rails, of New Zealand, of which O. greyi of the North 
Island is tawny above with dark shaft-stripes or bars, and grey 
below with fulvous fore-neck and sides. 0. carli of the South 
Island is more cinnamon in hue; QO. australis, also of the South 
Island, is less grey below, and usually has barred flanks; 0. 
Juscus of the south-west of the South Island is blacker than the 
first-named; O. hectori is a paler race of O. australis. These 
Rails are semi-nocturnal, and sometimes excavate burrows, in which, 
or in the scrub, they pass much of the day; the localities preferred 
are dry woods, ravines, and sandy shores, O. fuseus obtaiming the 
name of Kelp-Hen from the stretches of sea-weed that it frequents. 
This species feeds on sea-molluscs, but its congeners will eat young 
birds, lizards, caterpillars, worms, insects, and berries. The cry 
is a sharp whistle, often preceded by a growl, the birds being 
very tame when unmolested. They are pugnacious, inquisitive, 
and thievish, stealing articles from tents or houses, attacking fowls, 
or sucking their eggs. Their own eggs are from five to seven, 
both these and the nest, which is generally in a burrow, much 
resembling those of other Rails. Ocydromus sylvestris, of Lord 
Howe Island, is nearly uniform rufous above and brownish below, 
with barred wings and tail; it lays similar eggs upon the ground. 
The dusky 7richolimnas lafresnayi of New Caledonia is remark- 
able for its soft hair-like plumage, and the purplish-brown and 
black Gymnocrex rosenbergi of Celebes for its bare yellowish orbits. 
Aramides includes eight species found in Central and South 
America, of which A. ypecaha may be taken as a representative. 
It is olive-green above, with chestnut nape, black rump and tail, 
and greyish below with white throat and vinous belly ; the bill is 
yellow, the feet are scarlet. Cautious when danger threatens, it 1s 
sufficiently audacious to attack poultry ; among its native swamps 
it usually walks in stately style or struts on the branches of trees, 
though it can run quickly ; while it lies closely when surprised on 
open ground, dashing up with the whirring flight of a Partridge. 
The alarm-note is powerful, unearthly shrieks being uttered 
