260 KALLID^E LIMNOCORAX 



680. Limnocorax niger. Black Crake. 



Rallus niger, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i, p. 717 (1788). 



Gallinula flavirostra, Swains. B. W. Aft: ii, p. 244, pi. 28 (1887). 



Limnocorax flavostris, Gurnet/, Ibis, 1862, p. 35 [Natal] ; Sharpc, 

 1897, p. 516 [Eshowe] . 



Gallinula niger, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 342 (1867). 



Limnocorax niger, Gurney, Ibis, 1868, p. 470 [Mooi River] ; id. An- 

 derssoris B. Damaraland, p. 321 (1872) ; Ay res, Ibis, 1874, p. 105, 

 1878, p. 301 ; Barratt, Ibis, 1876, p. 213; Butler, Feilden and Reid, 

 Zool 1882, p. 426 ; Sliarpe eel. Layard' s B. S. Afr. p. 618 (1884) ; 

 W. Ayres, Ibis, 1887, p. 62 [Rooi Rand] ; Sliarpe, Cat. B. M. xxiii, 

 p. 150 (1894); Slwlley, B. Afr. i, p. 177 (1896); Woodward Bros. 

 Ibis, 1897, p. 401 ; id. Natal B. p. 169 (1899) ; Marshall, Ibis, 1900, 

 p. 263 ; Alexander, Ibis, 1900, p. 444 ; lieiclienow, Votj. Afr. i, p. 279 

 (1900). 



Ortygometra nigra, Fleck, Journ. Ornitli. 1894, p. 283. 



FIG. 82. Head of Limnocorax niger. x j.| 



Description. Adult. General colour above and below black with 

 a slight wash of slaty on the scapulars, wings and lower surface. 



Iris and naked skin round eye bright red, bill greenish-yellow 

 to dark green, legs bright red. 



Length 7'75 ; wing 3-8 ; tail 1-5 ; culmen -95 ; tarsus 1-5. 



The female is like the male ; the nestling is covered with black 

 down and the young is chocolate-brown instead of black, and ashy- 

 grey below. Bill green ; legs pale red. 



Distribution. The Black Crake is found over the greater part of 

 Africa from the Gambia and the White Nile southwards to Cape 

 Colony. In South Africa it appears to be generally distributed, 

 where suitable localities exist, though owing to its skulking habits 

 it has not been definitely recorded from many places. 



The following is a list of localities : Cape Colony, Cape division, 

 August (S. A. Mus.), Knysna (Marais), Port Elizabeth rare (Brown) ; 

 Natal near Durban, breeding August (Millar), Illovo River and 



