164 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Scotland a little more than a century ago, but it has 

 since been re-introduced into the Highlands where it 

 is now rapidly spreading. 



ORDER ZSEMIPODXX. 



Family Turnicidse. 



GENUS CXLIII. TURNIX, Bonnaterre (1790). 



259. Turnix sylvatiea, Desfont. ANDALUSIAN 



HEMIPODE. 



Hab. Southern Spain, Sicily and N. Africa. 

 Two examples have been taken in Oxfordshire (1844), 

 and a third near Huddersfield (1865). 



ORDER FULICARIJE. 

 Family Rallidae. 



GENUS CXLIV. RALLUS, Linnzus (1766). 



Bill longer than head, slender, nearly cylindrical towards 

 tip ; very slightly decurved ; upper mandible laterally 

 grooved. Tarsus rather long ; toes long, slender, three in 

 front, one behind. 



260. Rallus aquatieus, Linn. WATER-RAIL. 



Hab. Western Palaearctic region. 



Adult : feathers above olive-brown With black centres ; 

 cheeks, throat and breast dull slate : sides blackish barred 

 with white ; under tail-coverts buffish-white ; bill deep 

 red ; iris hazel ; tarsi pale brown. Length 10*25. Young : 

 under parts whitish, spotted and barred with brown. 

 Nestling : jet black with a whitish bill. 



