167 



dusky, edged with red, the under is reddish orange ; 

 irides red ; plumage above black ; the feathers edged 

 with olive brown, beneath ash colour ; the wings are 

 white; the tail short ; legs dirty red. 



The female lays yellowish eggs, spotted with dusky 

 brown.* 



GENUS XL VI. 

 GALLINULA. 



Bill thick at the base, sloping towards the point 

 and somewhat compressed sideways ; forehead more 

 bare ; body compressed ; wings short and concave ; 

 tail short ; toes divided to their origin. 



1. CREX. CRAKE GALLINULE, DAKER-HEN, OR 

 LAND RAIL. 



G. grisea pennis medio nigricantibus, alls rufo-fer- 

 rugineis, corpore subtus albo-rufescente. Lath. 



The bill is light brown ; irides hazel ; the feathers 



* In the 3rd number of the Edinburg Philos. Journal, 

 p. 190, it is said that the winglets of the rallus aquaticus 

 are provided with spines, about the eighth of an inch in 

 length. Several passerine birds are also said to possess 

 them. 



