448 



RAIL-TRIBE. 



A very beautiful little group of pigmy rails inhabit Africa and 

 ^^^^ ' Madagascar, characterised by the soft tail-feathers, almost hidden by 

 the coverts. In the South African form {Corethrura rufa) the general colour of 

 the upper-parts, sides, and flanks is black, longitudinally streaked with white ; the 

 inner-quills, lower-back, and tail being spotted with the same colour. The head, 

 neck, and chest are rich vinous chestnut, and the breast white streaked and barred 

 with black. Andersson, writing from Damaraland, says that " I have only found 



this species at Oman- 

 -^w 1. /T\ \ \ . i ^^^ bonde, where it is 



not uncommon, and 

 breeds. It frequents 

 stagnant waters, 

 tliickly fringed and 

 studded with aquatic 

 herbage, amongst the 

 ever-progressive de- 

 cay of which it loves 

 to disport itself and 

 to search for food. 

 It is very shy and 

 reserved in its habits, 

 seldom going far from 

 effective cover, and 

 gliding tlirough the 

 mazes of the rank 



vegetation 



tonishing 



swiftness." 



Water-Hens. 



with as- 

 and 



ease 



We 



now come 

 to a group, including 

 the water-hens and 

 coots, which are char- 

 acterised by having a 

 frontal shield at the 

 base of the upper bill. 

 The South Australian 

 Mortier's water - hen 

 (Tribonyx raortieri), 

 shown in the accompanying woodcut, is the only representative of its genus, and may 

 be recognised by its short toes, which do not exceed the leg (metatarsus) in length, 

 its large size, and feeble wings, with the primary and secondary quills about equal 

 in length. The general colour of this bird is ruddy brown washed with olive, 

 shading into greenish grey on the wing-coverts, which are spotted with white ; the 

 head and neck are dark olive-brown, and the rest of the under-parts greenish grey 

 washed with olive, with a large white patch on the sides of the body. Gould states 



mortier's water-hen. (From Sclater, Proc. Zoot. Soc, 1867.) 



