C 90%..4) 
Singalillas. The former on one or two occasions among reeds and 
grasses on the drying up, once biggish lake at Tongloo. In size this 
Coot is 18 inches ; bill and casque red ; irides and legs brick red ; 
plumage of this species is a greyish purple on hind neck, back and 
upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts pale blue ; quills dull blue ; tail 
black with bluish upper edgings to the feathers ; under parts are 
blue chiefly about the lower neck and breast purplish about sides 
of the body ; under tail-coverts white ; Poliocephalus has a loud call, 
and its flight is labored. It does not fly far, usually drops or dives 
down in the rushes again. It slips through the vegetation, about 
the place—more aquatic plants—with remarkable ease, unimpeded by 
the tangle labyrinth. 
(903) Funica atra, Bald Coot, is a little smaller in size, tarsus 
moderately long; toes long, having much wider lobed membrane 
than Purple Coot, which aids it not a little whilst paddling about 
the jeels or diving, with equal facility. Bill is shorter and thick, 
upper mandible compressed and deflected, at base of which, is a 
horny shield like protuberance, on the forehead ; wing short, concave 
2nd and 3rd quills longest; tail short and apologetic ; tarsus 
compressed ; toes very long with wide lobes; claws curved and 
sharp ; plumage soft and closely feathered, which like most “ water- 
birds” aid it together with the fatty substance, to keep out the 
water. Coots’ nests are usually, floating on surface of the water. 
In the same precarious position, as Jacanas, occasionally, indulge in. 
Eggs are nicely marked with red and dark brown spots on a greyish 
red ground colour. 
Doubtlessly Water-hens are well known to you, for they differ 
but little in habits from the species found in Europe. These birds 
together with the Rails, though common in the plains, are not met 
with on the Himalayas, they are found on marshy places, where they 
feed chiefly on larvee, water insects, and grain, occasionally leading ‘ 
fairly solitary existance. Some of the groups of species pass over 
into Northern and Central Asia. 
(913) Rattus srriatus, BLlue-breasted Rail, usually retire to 
breed on Sub-Himalayan districts. In appearance their bodies are 
compressed looking ; bills are longer than Coots and Water-birds as a 
whole, slender and straight, a little bent at the tip; it has a small 
spur on the shoulders ; forehead feathers are spiny. Striatus is 104 
inches in size ; bill and legs are greenish ; irides red ; dark chesnut, 
on the head and upper neck ; general appearance of the plumage, 
above, is olive, with narrow black and white bars ; beneath, bluish 
in colour, more prominent on the fore-neck and breast, the remaining 
underparts are dul] olive with white bands. 
