WATER RAIL. 329 



of Europe its range appears very restricted ; we have 

 never received it with any collection, and the notices 

 of its occurrence are very scanty. Pennant men- 

 tions Malta, and Mr. Strickland Smyrna.* 



An adult male, shot in this vicinity, has the crown 

 and all the upper parts yellowish-brown, tinted with 

 oil-green, the centre of each feather black ; on the 

 centre of the back occupying nearly the whole fea- 

 ther, but on the lower part and scapulars being in 

 the centre only, and there on the wings and tail, 

 allowing the pale colour to be the prevailing one ; 

 quills nearly clove-brown; on the forehead, until 

 beyond the line of the eyes, the shafts of each fea- 

 ther is strong, and protrudes in a horny point ; the 

 chin greyish- white ; the region of the eyes, cheeks, 

 sides of the neck, and under parts, until in a line 

 with the legs, bluish-grey; the flanks black, barred 

 with white ; tips of the feathers reddish wood-brown, 

 forming a line of that colour along the centre of the 

 vent, joining with the under tail-coverts, which are 

 similar, their basal half being black, which some- 

 times appears mixed with them ; axillary feathers 

 barred with black and white ; the bill is blackish- 

 brown at the tip, at the base tile-red, becoming 

 brighter and orange-red upon the edges of the gape ; 

 legs greenish -brown. White varieties sometimes 

 occur. 



* On the authority of Yarrell. 



