9286 Birds. 
The osteology of this bird has, so far as I can ascertain, never yet 
been described ; and in truth I feel myself a most unworthy medium 
of its introduction to your notice. 
For the purpose of comparison I have obtained specimens of the 
moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) and the land rail (G. Crea), both 
members of the same family as Gallinula pusilla, the object of our 
present consideration; observing, however, that the conditions of 
their retreat and means of subsistence are very opposite; viz., one— 
the moorhen—in the water, in ditches and marshy places; the other 
—the land rail—on land, especially in meadows and amongst rough 
grass. 
The little crake would seem, in its habits, to pass an existence 
intermediate between the two members of its family 1 have mentioned 
above. It inhabits marshy places and long, rough grass, but does 
not swim or dive in the water, excepting when under the influence of 
fear or necessity. 
Its foot is remarkably large in proportion to the size of its body, 
and would prove a most efficient support to its light frame when 
hunting water-insects over the surface of aquatic plants, even beyond 
the limits of its marshy hiding-place. 
This greater relative size and spread of foot I am enabled to 
observe by a comparison of a beautiful adult male specimen of 
G. pusilla in my own collection with other larger but commoner spe- 
cies of the same family. I purchased my specimen from a very old 
collector, on whose veracity I can rely, and who informed me that the 
bird was shot in the neighbourhood of Yarmouth, by a man named 
Harvey, of that place, during the year 1834. 
In order to show at a glance the greater relative spread of foot in 
G. pusilla, when compared with other larger members of the same 
family, I will contrast the measurements of the common land rail with 
those of G. pusilla. 
According to Yarrell, the total length of an adult specimen of G. 
Crex is rather less than ten inches; that of G. pusilla about seven 
inches ; 7. e., a difference of about three inches in the length of the 
two birds, very nearly one-half the total length of G. pusilla. 
The measurements of their respective feet, taken from specimens in 
my own collection, are as follows, viz., 
G. Crex, G. PUSILLA. 
Outer toe : - 1 inch ¥. 1 inch ¥. 
Middle toe : . 1 inch 4g. 1 inch ¥. 
Inner toe : ‘ 1 inch +. 1 inch ¥.- 
(Short measurement). 
