248 Mr. FP. W. Frohawk on a new Species of Rail. 
colouring as the back: bill light green, darkest and inclining 
to purplish at the tip and “culmen ; iris ruby; eyelid pale 
grey-green ; tarsus and feet light olive grey-green. ‘Total 
Jength about 6 inches, but capable of extending its neck to a 
considerable length, adding as much as 2 inches or more to 
the entire length. Wing from carpal joint 2} inches; bill 
(culmen) 75 inch; tarsus 3; inch; middle toe, including 
claw, 13 inch. 
Sexes very similar, but the female generally paler in colour 
throughout. 
Young birds have the underparts pale buff, replacing the 
grey of the adult. 
The nestling is entirely covered with black down, the bill 
yellowish. 
Nest: outside measurement 6 inches across, from 24 to 3 
inches high; inside it measures 3 inches across and 2 inches 
deep; it is rather loosely constructed of strips of sedge and 
coarse grass, and woven together with very fine shreds of 
grass, fibres, and a little down ; inside the materials are rather 
finer. 
The eggs ee oval, the ends of equal size, average measure- 
ments 1} by 23 # inch, ’and are of a very pale creamy ‘buff flecked 
with light red-brown and purplish grey, both colours being 
pale and somewhat indistinct ; in some the colouring is much 
suffused and variable in depth; they also vary in size. 
The nest described was found on June 24th, 1891, and 
contained three eggs. 
Locality. Laysan Island, lat. 25° 46’ N., long. 171° 49" W. 
The following notes | have fortunatel y had the opportunity 
of making from the living birds now in the collection of the 
Hon. Walter Rothschild (which are in the charge of Mr. 
Doggett) ; they have lately been received from his collec- 
tor, Henry Palmer, from Laysan Island. 
This little rail is of very considerable interest, being new 
to science, of small size, incapable of flight, very active and 
swift on foot, apparently very tame and “fearless, and easily 
caught. 
I had the opportunity of observing them while they were 
running about a room, when I noticed they never once 
attempted to make use of their wings; the only time I 
noticed them doing so was in springing up to perch. 
During the day ‘they keep up an incessant chirping, con- 
sisting of from one to three soft, short, and clear notes; but 
soon after dusk they all, as if by one given signal, str ike up 
a most peculiar chorus, which lasts but a few seconds, and 
then all remain silent. I can only compare the sound to 
a handful or two of marbles being thrown on a glass roof 
