Oedee GRALLtE.] [Fam. RALLID^E. 



KALLUS DIEFFENBACHII. 



(DIEFFENBACH'S RAIL.) 



Rallus dieffenbachii, Gray in Dieff. Trav. ii., App. p. 197 (1843). 

 Ocydromus dieffenbachii, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terror, p. 14, pi. 15 (1844). 

 Hypotcenidia dieffenbachi, Bonap. C. E. xliii. p. 599 (1856). 

 Hypotcenidia dieffenbachii, Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 238. 

 Rallus modestus, Hutton, Ibis, 1872, p. 247. 



Native name. — Moeriki. 



Ad. supra brunnescenti-olivaceus, ochraceo et nigricante irregulariter transversim fasciatus : dorso postico et 

 uropygio olivascenti-brunneis, supracaudalibus aureo-fulvo transfasciatis : pileo summo brunneo uni- 

 colori : striga longa superciliari, gems et gutture toto cinereis : striga altera a basi maxillae per oculum 

 ducta brunnescenti-castanea : tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus : remigibus castaneis, nigro trans- 

 notatis, versus apicem brunnescentibus, secundariis intimis dorso concoloribus, fulvo notatis : rectrici- 

 bus olivascenti-brunneis, uuicoloribus : collo laterali inferiore et pectore superiore nigris albido trans- 

 fasciatis : pectore fulvescenti-ocbraceo, nigro transfaciato : corpore reliquo subtus nigro, albo trans- 

 versim lineato : subcaudalibus latius fulvo transfasciatis : rostro brunneo, versus basin saturatiore : 

 pedibus pallide brunneis : iride rufescenti-bmnnea. 



Juv. (R. modestus, Hutton) olivascenti-brunneus, unicolor, plumis quibusdam interscapulii et tectricibus alarum 

 majoribus paucis indistincte fulvo fasciatim terminatis : supracaudalibus fulvo magis distincte trans- 

 fasciatis : facie laterali vix cinerascente : gutture sordide cinereo, brunnescente obscurato : corpore 

 reliquo subtus brunneo, dorso concolori, sed anguste et magis distincte fulvo transfasciato : rostro et 

 pedibus pallide brunneis : iride pallide brunnea. 



Adult. Crown and nape dark rusty brown ; sides of the head and the whole of the throat pale ash-grey, the ' 

 former traversed by a broad band of rusty brown, which, commencing at the base of the upper man- 

 dible, passes across and under the eyes and thence downwards, changing on the ear-coverts to chestnut, 

 and meeting in a broad band of that colour on the lower part of the hind neck ; towards the base of the 

 lower mandible, and a streak over the eyes, greyish white ; on the fore neck a zone of black with rayed 

 lines of white, bordering the ash-grey, and widening out on the sides into a rounded patch ; neck 

 beyond and the whole of the breast bright rufous brown, with narrow transverse bands of black ; 

 shoulders and all the upper part of the back fulvous brown varied with black, beautifully barred and 

 spotted with pale rufous brown ; lower part of back and rump dark fulvous brown, plumbeous beneath ; 

 underparts black, handsomely fasciated with white on the upper part of the abdomen, sides of the 

 body and flanks, less distinctly so and tipped with fulvous on the lower part of abdomen and soft 

 ventral feathers ; under tail-coverts black, broadly barred with rufous brown ; primaries bright chest- 

 nut, with numerous transverse bars of brownish black and tipped with olive-brown ; secondaries much 

 browner, with the chestnut considerably diminished and assuming the form of broad toothed markings 



