III. THE DABCHICKS. I I 5 



with, the ebbing or flowing of the water like a 

 boat: and to prevent its being carried away, 

 it is moored or fastened to a reed." (Bewick.) 



II.B. ALLEGRETTA NYxMPH^A, STELLARIS. 

 STARRY ALLEGRET. 



97. Called * Stellaris ' by Temminck. — I do 

 not find wh}^, but it is by much the brightest 

 in colour of the three, and may be thought 

 of as the star of them. Gould says it is the 

 least, also, and calls it the ' Pigmy ' ; but we 

 can't keep that name without confusing it with 

 the 'Minuta.' 'Baillon's Crake' seems the 

 most commonly accepted title, — as the worst 

 possible. Both this, and the more quietly 

 toned Tiny, in Mr. Gould's delightful plates 

 of them, have softly brown backs, exquisitely 

 ermined by black markings at the root of each 

 feather, following into series of small waves, 

 like little breakers on sand. They have lovely 

 grey chemisettes, striped grey bodices, and 

 green bills and feet ; a little orange stain at 

 the root of the green bill, and the bright red 

 iris of the eye have wonderful effect in warm- 

 ing the colour of the whole bird : and with 

 beautiful fancy Mr. Gould lias put the Stellaris 



