722 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Gen. Porzana, Vieillot, 



Syn. Ortygometra and Zapornia.. 



Bill about the length of the head, compressed throughout, 

 moderately slender, very slightly deeper at the base, and somewhat 

 narrowed in the middle ; wings moderate, rounded ; tail very short; 

 tarsus moderate ; toes rather long, slender, smooth ; claws com- 

 pressed, sharp. 



The birds of this genus frequent marshy ground, are mostly 

 solitary birds, and are very difficult to flush. The first by its 

 plumage, forms a sort of link with the Water-hens, and has been 

 badly placed by Bonaparte with the group named Hypotcenidia. 



908. Porzana akool, Sykes. 



Gallinula, apud Sykes, Cat. 203 — Blyth. Cat. 1662 — G. mo- 

 desta, Swainson. 



The Brown-rail. 



Descr. — Above olive brown, ashy brown on the rump ; wings 

 and tail dusky ; wing-coverts deep brown ; chin white ; throat, 

 breast, and belly ashy-brown ; flanks olive-brown ; lower tail- 

 coverts deep brown. 



Bill greenish ; irides red-brown ; legs and feet fleshy brown 

 or livid purple. Length 11 inches ; wing 7 ; tail 3^ ; bill at front 

 If ; tarsus 2. 



This is comparatively a rare bird in most parts of the country, 



although it appears generally distributed. It has been found in 



• the Deccan, in Central India, and is rather common in Lower 



Bengal. It frequents grassy swamps, and the edges of tanks and 



rivers, runs well, and is flushed with difficulty. 



Porz. immaculata, Swainson, from Australia, is a similarly 

 coloured species, but much smaller. 



The next group comprises several small Rails of more or less 

 spotted plumage, spread through the temperate regions of the Old 

 World, migrating in winter to tropical countries. 



909. Porzana maruetta, Brisson. 



Eallus, apud Brisson — Blyth, Cat. 1663 — Jerdon, Suppl. 

 Cat. 330 bis — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 343 — Rail, porzana, 

 LlNN. — Khairi, Beng. or Gurguri hhairi — Venna mudi-kodi, Tel. 



