THE PECTORAL RAIL 



179 



The Pectoral Rail. — Moho-pereru. 



Uupotaen idia philippensis. 



Above, brownish olive, spotted with white. Breast, abdomen, and 

 sides, black, barred with white, and an irregular band of buff on breast. 

 Throat and sides of the face, grey; a line of rufous through the eye 

 to the nape. Quills dark brown banded with rufous. Eye reddish 

 brown. Female — The buff band on the breast is very narrow. Length 

 of the wing, 5.5 in.; of the tarsus, 1.5 in. Egg — Cream colour, spotted 

 with dark and light ehestniit and grey; length, 1.5 in. Malay 

 Archipelago, Australia, New Zealand, and Polynesia. 



Mangare Rail. 



■It. Birds Bi-it. Mus.) 



These birds live among tangled masses of grass, sedges, and 

 rushes, which border swamps and lagoons. Owing to their shy 

 and retiring disposition, they are seldom seen. They run through 

 the vegetation with great agility, and never take to flight except 

 when on the point of being captured by a dog. Even then they 

 fly a short distance only, with a slow flapping of the wings. They 

 live on rank weeds, and swallow sand in order to help digestion. 

 They make no nest. 



