14 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



Indefatigable Island so measured proved to be 145 mm, in 

 length, and 228 in extent. Two males from James Island 

 were 160 and 156 mm. in length, and 245 and 240 in extent. 

 A female from Indefatigable Island was 138 in length, and 231 

 in extent; while a female from James Island was found to be 

 somewhat larger, being 150 in length, and 240 in extent. No 

 others were measured in the flesh. 



The Academy's series of skins of this species numbers 

 seventy-nine, thirty-nine of which are males, thirty-eight 

 females, and two unsexed. Extreme and average measure- 

 ments in millimeters are as follows : Males — Wing 61-72 

 (68.3); tail 20-26 (24.6); culmen 15-17.7 (16.13); tarsus 

 19.5-23.4 (21.53); middle toe 22-26 (24.2). Females- 

 Wing 61-72 (66.6) ; tail 21-27 (23.6) ; culmen 14.7-16.6 

 (15.46); tarsus 19.7-22.6 (21.28); middle toe 21.8-25.4 

 (24). 



Measurements in millimeters of a series of nine Black Rails 

 {Creciscus jamaicensis), consisting of one male and eight 

 females from about San Francisco Bay, California, are as 

 follows: Male — Wing 66; tail 29; culmen 15.1; tarsus 19.5; 

 middle toe 20.8. Females— Wing 65-68 (66.6) ; tail 29-34 

 (30.9) ; culmen 13-14.8 (14) ; tarsus 18.1-19.8 (19.04) ; mid- 

 dle toe 19.5-21 (20.46). 



Comparing the average riieasurements of the Galapagos Rail 

 with those of the Black Rail, it appears that the length of wing 

 of the two species is practically the same, while in length of 

 tail the Black Rail exceeds the Galapagos Rail by several milli- 

 meters, in spite of the fact that it is a smaller bird otherwise; 

 viz., in length of culmen, length of tarsus, and length of mid- 

 dle toe. In other words, the bill and feet of the Galapagos 

 Rail are larger in proportion to the other parts than are the 

 corresponding members in the Black Rail. In the Black Rail, 

 the development of wing and tail, as compared with that of the 

 bill and feet, is much greater than in the Galapagos Rail. 



The following remarks on the moults and plumages of the 

 Galapagos Rail are made after a thorough study of the material 

 in hand. 



One male and two females from Abingdon Island show 

 some wear, but no sign of moult. These specimens all had 

 enlarged sexual organs, and were taken in September, which 



