CORETHRURA DIMIDIATA, 615 
chin whitish; sides of the head, neck, and chest, light slate-colour ; 
flanks, thighs, and belly, brownish-black, crossed with white bars ; 
irides red, according to Mr. Atmore, dark-brown. Length, 7’; 
wing, 32”; tail, 1”. 
Fig. Dresser, B. Hur. vii. pl. 497. 
592. CoRmTHRURA PULCHRA ((7ray). White-spotted Crake. 
A single specimen of this little species was sent to us by 
the late Mr. G. Rex from the Knysna. It must be very rare, 
as it has not since occurred to us in twelve years’ observation. 
Mr. J. C. Rickard has obtained two specimens at Hast London, 
one of which was caught in a rat trap! Captain Watson shot 
it on the Umgene in Natal. Captain Trevelyan says that it is rare 
near Kingwilliamstown and he has only procured one specimen 
there. 
Head, neck, and breast, bright-rufous; tail, dull rufous barred 
with black; the rest of the plumage above and beneath, black, 
spotted with white below, and fulvous above. Length, 6’; 
wing, 3” 3"; tail, 1” 7”. 
Fig. Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves, pl. 22. 
593. COoRETHRURA DimipraTa (Temm.). Rufous-chested Crake. 
This elegant little Gallinule is not unfrequent among reeds, and 
appears widely distributed. It is difficult to flush, preferring to 
skulk among the dense rushes and tangled herbage; if, however, 
it does take wing, it quickly relinquishes its weak, butterfly-looking 
flight, and drops into the grass again, from which it will suffer itself 
to be captured by the hand rather than rise. Mr. Atmore sent us 
an egg taken from the abdomen of a female shot by him, which is 
pure white: axis, 13”; diam., 10’. 
Mr. Ayres has found it in Natal and in the Transvaal ; in the latter 
country he says that it “inhabits the Snipe-grounds, but is scarce 
and difficult to flush.” Mr. Andersson writes:—‘“‘I have only 
found this species at Omanbondé, where it is not uncommon and 
breeds. It frequents stagnant waters, thickly frmged and studded 
with aquatic herbage, amongst the ever progressive decay of which 
it loves to disport itself and to search for food. It is very shy and 
retired in its habits, seldom going far from effective cover, and 
gliding through the mazes of the rank vegetation with astonishing 
