RALLID.E. 339 



"before the nasal groove, and the sides much compressed to 

 the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; the gonys short and 

 ascending ; the nostrils lateral, and placed in a membranous 

 groove, with the opening linear and in the middle ; wings 

 moderate, with the first quill much shorter than the second, 

 which is also much shorter than the third and fourth, 

 which are equal and longest; tail short, rather graduated; 

 tarsi as long as or shorter than the middle toe, rather slender, 

 and the front covered with transverse scales ; toes lengthened 

 and slender, with the inner shorter than the outer; the hiud toe 

 long, and very slender ; the claws moderate, weak, and acute. 



634. Corethrura Pulchra. (Gray) Griff An. 



Kingd. III., p. 140 ; Crex Pulchra, J. E. Gray; Gal- 

 linula Pulchra, Swain., W. Af. 11, p. 243; Ortygo- 

 metra Pulchra, G. R Gray ; Gallinula Elegans, 

 Smith, Zool. S. A, PI. 22 ; Rallus Cinnamoneus, 

 Less., Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 99; Rufous-headed Rail, 

 Lath., Genl. Hist, Vol. IX., p. 379. 



HEAD, neck, breast, and tail, bright- rufous ; the rest of the 

 plumage above and beneath, black, spotted with white. 

 Length, 6" ; wing, 3" 3'" ; tail, 1" 7'". 



A single specimen of this little species was sent to me by the late 

 Mr. G. Hex from the Knysna. It must be very rare, as it has not 

 since occurred to me in twelve years' observation. 



635. Corethrura Dimidiata. (Temm.) Gallinula 



Dimidiate, Smith, Zool. S. Af., PI. 20. 



MALE : head, neck, breast, and shoulders, chestnut ; body 

 black, streaked with white ; plumage very lax. Length, 

 6" 6'"; wing, 3"; tail, 2". 



The Female is black-brown, minutely spotted with light- 

 buff spots ; chin white ; centre of breast, dirty-buff. 



This elegant little Gallinule is not unfrequent among reeds, and 

 appears widely distributed. It is difficult to flush, preferring to skulk 

 among the dense rushes and tangled herbage; if, however, -it doe& 

 take wing, it quickly relinquishes its weak, butterfly-looking flight, 

 and drops into the grass again, from which it will suffer itself to be 

 captured by the hand rather than rise. Mr. Atmore sent me an egg 

 taken from the abdomen of a female shot by him, which is pure white : 

 axis, 13"; diam., 10". 



636. Corethrura Ruficollis. (Gray.) Zool. Misc., 



p. 1 3 ; Gallinula Jardinii, Smith, Zool. S. Af., PI. 2 1 ; 



Alecthelia Lineata, Swain., Q, An. in Menag., p. 338. 

 5. Head, posterior portion of neck and tail, bright- rufous ; 

 chin white ; the rest of the body dark grey-brown, varie- 



