162 EALL1DA'. 



Habits, <$'c. Very similar to those of Eallus indicus, except that 

 the present species is a very silent bird, and only occasionally 

 utters a rather sharp though not loud whistled note. The 

 breeding-season in Bengal and Pegu is from May to the end of 

 October; the nests are pads of grass, varying in thickness, in 

 swampy ground, and the eggs are usually from 5 to 7 in number, 

 pinkish stone-colour, spotted or blotched, chiefly about the larger 

 end, with reddish brown and greyish lilac. They measure about 

 1-35 by 1-02. 



1390. Hypotaenidia obscurior. The Andamanese Banded Hail. 



Rallus striatus, apud Ball, J. A. S. B. xli, pt. 2, p. 288 ; id. S. F. i, 



p. 86 ; nee Linn. 

 Hypolaemdia striata, apud Hume, S. F. ii, p. 302: Walden, Ibis, 



1874, p. 146. 

 Hvpotsenidia obscuriora, Hume, S, F. ii, p. 302 (Jan. 1874) ; i\*, 



p. 294 ; id. Cat. no. 913 bis ; Hume $ Marsh. Game B. ii, p. 253, 



pi. : Oates in Hume's N. 8f K 2nd ed. iii, p. 400. 

 Hypotasnidia ferrea, Walden, Ibis, 1874, p. 303 (April 1874). 

 Hypotasnidia abnorinis, Hume, 8. F. iii, p. 147 (1875) ; id. Cat. 



no. 913 ter. 

 Hypotaenidia obscurior (H. striatas subsp.), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. 



xxiii, p. 37. 



Like the last species, but larger and much darker in colour; the 

 head and nape dark rufous brown ; upper parts generally blackish 

 brown, with narrow pale edges to the feathers ; breast slaty grey. 



Bill Indian-red, tips of both mandibles and whole culmen deep 

 horny brown ; irides deep brown ; legs and feet dark greenish 

 horny (Daviton). 



Length 12 ; tail 2 ; wing 5'4 ; tarsus 1*6 ; bill from gape 1*75. 



Distribution. The Andaman Islands. 



Habits, $c. As in the last species. Nests with 4 and 6 eggs, 

 resembling those of H. striata and measuring about 1'43 by 1, 

 have been taken in May and July. 



Genus CREX, Bechstein, 1802. 



The Land-Kail stands apart from all other genera of the family. 

 It has a comparatively short, stout bill, the depth at the base of 

 the upper mandible being more than half the culmen ; the tarsus 

 is about equal to the middle toe and claw. The wings are rather 

 broad, the 2nd quill longest, the 1st about equal to the 5th or 

 6th. 



There is but a single species, and that is a European bird, 

 hitherto only recorded from the north-western extremity of the 

 Indian area. It is easily recognized by its rufous wings, and is 

 more of a land and less of a water bird than most of the liallidw. 



