RALLIDAE 247 



these markings are restricted to the sides and abdominal region, 

 and in H. hracJiT/jJUS, wliere the belly is plain. 



Cahcdiis modestus and Nesolimnas dieffenhaclii 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 Eails, of New Zealand, of which 0. 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 ; 0. australis, also of the South 

 Island, is less grey below, and usually has barred flanks ; 0. 

 fuscus of the south-west of the South Island is blacker than the 

 first-named; 0. hector i is a paler race of 0. australis. These 

 Eails 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, 0. fuscus obtaining 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 wdiistle, often preceded by a growl, the birds being 

 very tame when unmolested. They are pugnacious, inquisitive, 

 and tliievish, stealing articles from tents or houses, attacking fowls, 

 or sucking their eggs. Their own eggs are from five to seven, 

 l)oth these and the nest, which is generally in a burrow, much 

 resembling those of other Eails. Ocydromus sylvestris, of Lord 

 Howe Island, is nearly uniform rufous above and brownish below, 

 with l^arred wings and tail ; it lays similar eggs upon the ground. 



The dusky Tricholimnas lafresnayi of New Caledonia is remark- 

 able for its soft hair-like plumage, and the purplish-brown and 

 black Gymnocrex rosenhergi 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 is 

 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 



