710 Birds of Celebes: Rallidae. 



etc.); Salanga (J. "Weber e 12)\ Singapore (Kelham e 11)\ Sumatra ("S. Miiller c 3, 

 Beccari e 7, etc.); Banka (v. d. Bossche c 5); Noordwachter Id. (Vorderman c 72); 

 Nias (Kannegieter 10); Java (Horsfield e 5, Bocarme c 3, etc.); Natuna Is. — 

 Sirhassen (Everett e 27]\ Borneo (Diard, Mottley, etc. e 17 f, Philippines — Palawan, 

 Calamianes, Mindoro, Siquijor, Marinduque, Mindanao, Basilan, Sooloo, Tawi Tawi, 

 Bongao (Platen 5, Bourns & AVorcester S, Everett e 10, 6, Guillemard e 15, 

 Steere e 19); Talaut Is. — Kabruang (Nat. Coll. e 26 in Dresd. Mus.); Sangi 

 Is. — Tagulandang (Nat. Coll. in Dresd. Mus.); Celebes — Minaliassa ("Wallace 7, 

 Meyer e 8, etc.), Gorontalo Distr. (Forsten c 3, Rosenberg c 3, etc.), Dongala, 

 West Celebes (Doherty 11), Kandari, S. E. Celebes (Beccari e 4], South Celebes 

 fReinwardt c 3, "Wallace 7, Platen 2, "Weber e 25); Saleyer Id. ("Weber e 25, 

 Everett e 28); Sumbawa (Guillem. f3, 7); Timor (S. Miiller b 1, c 3, "Wallace 

 i 1, 7); Burn (Bruijn i 1, Leyden Mus. i 1). 



The "White-breasted Water-hen seems to be a very common species almost 

 throughout its range, but, owing to its skulking habits, it is more often heard than 

 seen. Its voice is a most remarkable one, and authors have foimd some strange 

 similies for it; Mr. Oates compares it to the braying of an ass; Mr. Aitken 

 speaks of it as beginning with loud harsh roars, "which might have been elicited 

 from a bear by roasting it slowly over a large fire", suddenly changing to a 

 clear note, repeated like the coo of a Dove; while Colonel Legge says that 

 it might startle a stranger in the night into thinking that some one was being 

 strangled beneath his windows. Its Alfurous name in the Minahassa, "Saring 

 wokwok", is taken from its cry. 



In some parts of its range it is not stationary; thus, it visits the Lower 

 Yangtse Basin, as Mr. F. W. Styan, remarks, in summer, yet in South China Mr. 

 De La Touche says it is resident. Mr. T. Parker (e 13) found that a local mi- 

 gration of this among many other species takes place in N. W. Ceylon after 

 the breeding season, in consequence of the drying-up of the tanks. 



The Timor birds have been separated as a distinct species, A. leucomelaena 

 by Salomon Miiller; it is said by Schlegel to have the black extended on to 

 the forehead and sides of the head, and much more spread out towards the 

 lower neck and middle of the breast and belly. The species was admitted by 

 Count Salvador!, but it is not allowed to stand by Dr. Sharpe. and the un- 

 satisfactory nature of its characters may be judged from the fact that it has been 

 recorded by Briiggemann and W. Blasius from Celebes and Borneo, where 

 A. phoenicura is found by others. According to Legge the species varies consi- 

 derably. The existence of local races on the main islands must for the present 

 be held not proven. The Andamans and Nicobars, however, according to Sharpe, 

 harbour a dark race, named by him A. insularis. 



Elsewhere, this wide-spread "Water-hen has no near allies, its white face 

 and breast easily distinguishing it from the other members of its genus. Its 

 habits are well described in Legge's "Birds of Ceylon" (e 9). 



