﻿202 Transactions. — Zoology. 



the Australian and the New Zealand Sea Bears prove to be the same, Mr. 

 Allen's hypothesis that there is but one true fur seal in the southern hemis- 

 phere, as in the northern, may also prove correct. In the meantime "we may 

 take leave to doubt both propositions. Until a comparison is instituted by 

 some one who has seen both, or at least good specimens of both, the question 

 will probably not be settled. 



Art. XXXI. — Notes on a New Species of Rail, Rallus pictus, Painted Rail. 



By T. H. Potts. 



[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 5th April, 1871.] 



Early in the month of March there was received at the Canterbury Museum 

 a fine specimen of the Rail family, which had been obtained in the neighbour- 

 hood of the Okarito lagoon, Westland. This handsome bird at first sight bears 

 a strong resemblance to Rallus pectoralis, Gould, from the similaiity in the 

 colours and markings of its plumage ; a closer examination discloses its superior 

 size and more slender figure, some difference in the shape of the bill, and a 

 well defined garter above the tarsal joint, thus showing a marked departure 

 from the form of its better known congener. 



The bill differs from that of R. 2')ectoralis, in presenting a form less wedge- 

 like, more produced, with the culmen slightly raised, the shallow farrows in 

 which the lateral nostrils are pierced are less angular, the organ also possesses 

 a greater degree of flexibility ; that it is comparatively weaker one may judge 

 from the relative measurements of the bills of the two species. 



Length of upper mandible from gape 



Length of under mandible from gape . 



Width of bill at base 



Depth of bill at base .... 



Entire length from point of bill to the end 



of tail 12-25 15-75 



In addition to the peculiarities of the bill thus pointed out, it possesses a 

 leg better adapted for wading than that of the closely allied species, the tibia 

 is bared of feathers to the width of half an inch above the tarsal joint. It is 

 not surpi'ising that amidst the dense tangled thickets of rush, grasses, or Carex 

 that border the swampy lagoons of the West Coast, it has hithei-to genei-ally 

 eluded observation ; the shy, retiring habits of the group to which it is allied 

 would there find abundant shelter for concealment, whilst its slender form, its 

 compressed almost canoe-like figure, is wondei'fully well fitted for rapidly 



pectoralis. 



R. pictus. 



Inclies. 



Inclies. 



1-42 



1-58 



1-31 



1-54 



0-29 



0-25 



0-38 



0-29 



