Birds of Celebes: Rallidae. 703 



interesting observation that it is almost exclusively confined to the moister por- 

 tions of the Empire where the rainfall exceeds 40 inches. Swinhoe found it 

 breeding in Formosa, and Bernstein discovered its nest in Java; Vorderman 

 remarks that it is to be met with throughout the year in the grass-lands and 

 sawahs around Batavia. We are inclined to regard it as a winter visitor to 

 Celebes, but the species is of concealed habits, and closer research by natura- 

 lists travelling there is required before anything like knowledge can be pre- 

 tended to. 



A very dark example with white spots on the outermost primary from one 

 of the southern islands of the Loochoo Group has been separated by Dr. 

 Stejneger as P. jihaeopyga. Another allied form is P. paykulli (Ljungh), 

 ranging from E. Siberia south to Borneo, a larger bird, with an ashy brown 

 upper surface and broad white bars on the flanks and under tail-coverts. In 

 Australasia the wide-spread P. tahuensis (Gm.) has certain affinities with P.fusca; 

 here the vinaceous rufous of the under-parts are replaced by slaty. 



Bernstein describes the lluddy Crake in Java as being partial to the 

 same localities as Hypotaenidia striata, but, owing to its concealed and quiet 

 mode of life, he rarely saw the bird in nature. In Ceylon Col. Legge found 

 it "on the borders of streams and damp sedgy spots". He has also encountered 

 it in a wood, where it flew a short distance and perched on a low tree. Mr. 

 Oates writes that in Burmah it "is the only one of the Crakes which can be 

 said to be at all common. It frequents all sorts of jungle, provided there is 

 water about; and it comes out into the open rather frequently". 



GENUS LIMNOCORAX Ptrs. 



There seems to be little to distinguish this genus from Porzana, except its 

 comparatively long hallux, which with the claw is about IV2 times the length 

 of the first phalanx of the inner toe, but it is also easily distinguished from 

 the small Crakes by its entirely black plumage. The single species of the genus 

 belongs to Africa, but has been obtained also in Celebes. 



^ 302. LIMNOCORAX NIGER (Gm.). 



African Black Crake. 



a. Eallus niger fl) Gm., S. N. 1788, I, 717 (ex Latham). 



b. Gallinula flavirostra (I) Swains., B. W. Afr. 1837, 11, 244, pi. 28. 



c. Ortygometra nigra (1) Gray, List Grallae Brit. Mus. 1844, 118; (2) Bohm, J. f. O. 



1882, 186; (3) Meyer, Isis, Dresden 1884, 53; (4) Biittik., Notes Leyden Mus. 

 1885, Vn, 245. 



d. Limnocorax flavirostris fl) Hartl., J. f. 0. 1854, 301; (2) Gurney, Ibis 1862, 35; (3) 



Meyer, J. f. 0. 1873, 405; (4) id., J. f. O. 1883, 149; (0) W. Bias., ib, 



e. Ortygometra flavirostris (1) Pelz., Verb. z.-b. Ges. Wien 1875, 47; (2) Cabanis, J. f. O. 



1883, 150. 



