OF NEW OB LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 361 



2. albirostris, Lich, Berlin Cat. 80. ; 3. orientalis, Rupp. 

 Atlas, pi. 24. ; 4. melanurus, Nob. No. 176. ; 5. alhicolUs. I 

 have not yet seen the cinerascens and brevirostris of Spix, placed 

 by Wagler as the young, in different stages of growth, of 

 borealis. 



229. Rallus nivosus. 



Black : wings and back varied with olive brown : 

 upper plumage with numerous snow-white oval spots 

 on the neck and back, and with stripes on the scapulars ; 

 under plumage entirely banded and spotted with white 

 and black. 



Inhabits ? Mus. Nost. 



Total length 10 1 inches; bill, gape 1-^; front 1^^; wings 

 4^^ ; tail, beyond, J^ ; base 2-^^ ; tarsus 1 ,■*, ; middle toe and 

 claw 1 ,2j ; hind ditto j*^,,. Bill strong ; the upper mandible 

 much curved towards the tip, and distinctly notched ; but the 

 gonys is straight : the colour seems yellowish green, with a 

 red spot at the base. The ground colour of the whole plumage 

 is black ; but the margins of the feathers on the wing covers, 

 scapulars, back, and rump are olive brown : quills sooty black ; 

 the outermost with five white marginal spots : under tail 

 covers white : crown and lores blackish ; the former with a few 

 whitish specks : each feather of the neck and under scapulars 

 has two oval spots, purely white, near the tip : tail brownish 

 black, edged with olive : legs red : the under plumage is 

 entirely black and white, striped on the neck, and banded on 

 the body. 



