108 RALLID^E. 



mare, a small watering-place on the British Channel. This 

 specimen Mr. Edwards was kind enough to send up for 

 my use ; and the description and measurements, to be 

 hereafter given, were taken from that bird. In its habits, 

 food, and nesting, this species resembles that last described, 

 laying seven or eight oval-shaped eggs very similar in co- 

 lour, markings, size, and shape to that of Crex pusilla. 



Mr. Selby says, it is well known in the neighbourhood 

 of Boulogne, on the opposite coast, where it annually 

 breeds in the marshes ; it is found besides in several 

 provinces of France. M. Baillon has found it in the 

 marshes of Picardy ; it is seen occasionally in Switzerland, 

 at Genoa, and throughout Italy. Mr. Joseph Clarke sent 

 me word he had seen specimens from Africa ; and Dr. A. 

 Smith brought examples in his collection formed at the 

 Cape, and in southern Africa. It is rare in Sicily, but 

 abundant in Algeria. It has been obtained in Nepal and 

 about Calcutta. M. Temminck says that skins sent from 

 Japan do not differ from those obtained in Europe. 



In the adult male the beak is green, the base red ; irides 

 red ; top of the head, and back of the neck, clove-brown ; 

 centre of the back, and the scapulars, black, with nume- 

 rous spots and streaks of pure white ; wing-coverts and 

 tertials clove-brown, spotted and streaked with pure white ; 

 primaries dark brown, the outer web of the first quill- 

 feather edged with white ; upper tail-coverts and tail- 

 feathers clove-brown; throat, cheeks, sides, and front of 

 the neck, breast and belly, uniform lead-grey ; vent and 

 under tail-coverts the same, but tipped with white ; legs 

 and toes flesh colour. 



The female has both mandibles green at the point, pale 

 reddish brown at the base ; irides crimson-red ; neither the 

 black colour on the centre of the back, or on the scapulars, 

 or the white spots upon the black, are so pure in colour as 



