BALLING. 723 



The Spotted Rail. 



Descr. — Crown, back, scapulars, and rump olive brown, blotched 

 with dusky, and all the feathers except those of the head elegantly 

 spotted and streaked with white ; forehead and eyestreak ash- 

 grey, the latter speckled with white ; nape thickly spotted with 

 black and white ; cheeks cinereous, speckled with black ; wing- 

 coverts olive brown, sparingly spotted with white ; quills brown ; 

 throat ashy grey ; fore part of the neck and breast pale olivaceous, 

 tinged with ashy grey and spotted with white ; belly and vent ashy 

 white ; flanks with transverse bars of white, black, and olivaceous 

 brown. 



Bill greenish yellow, orange at the base ; irides red brown ; 

 legs and feet bright yellowish green. Length 9 inches ; extent 15^ ; 

 wing 4| ; tail 2 ; bill at front f ; tarsus 1 T 4 ^ ; middle toe and 

 claw 1 t 6 q. 



The spotted Rail of England is found over all India, in the cold 

 season, and frequents marshes, rice fields, and moist meadows near 

 rivers and tanks. It is found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, 

 breeding in temperate regions ; it is stated to make a floating nest 

 of rushes, and tp lay eight to twelve reddish-white eggs spotted 

 with brown. It becomes very fat at certain seasons, and is said 

 to be excellent eating. 



The smaller Rails have been separated as Zapornia, Leach. 



910. Porzana pygmaea, Naumann. 



Crex, apud Naumann — Blyth, Cat. 1664 — Gallin. Bailloni, 

 Vietllot — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 344. 



The Pigmy Rail. 



Descr. — Crown and neck above wood-brown; back, scapulars, 

 and wing-coverts yellow-brown, tinged with olive, and with 

 numerous white, black-edged, irregular spots ; cheeks, throat, neck 

 and under parts bluish grey, the sides of the abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts black with white cross-bars. 



Bill dark green ; irides reddish ; legs and feet fleshy brown. 

 Length 7 to 7| inches ; extent 12 ; wing 3}£ ; tail 1-^ ; bill at 

 front f ; tarsus 1 ; middle toe and claw 1^- 



