Order GKALLJ3.] [F AM . KALLID^E. 



OKTYGOHETKA AFFINIS. 



(WATER-CRAKE.) 



Ortygometra affinis, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terror, Birds, p. 14 (1844). 

 Porzana affinis, Bonap. C. K. xliii. p. 599 (1856). 

 Ballus punctatus, Ellman, Zool. 1861, p. 7470. 



Native name. — Koitareke. 



Ad. suprk ochrascenti-olivaceus, dorsi plumis medialiter nigris et albo vermiculatim aut irregidariter notatis vel 

 marginatis : pileo paullulum obscuriore, nigro notato : tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus fere imma- 

 culatis, majoribus autem versus apicem albo ocellatis : remigibus bruiineis concoloribus, primario extimo 

 albido anguste marginato, secundariis medialiter nigricantibus dorsi colore marginatis et extus maculis 

 albis notatis : cauda nigra, saturate ochraceo lavata : supercilio distincto, facie laterali et corpore subtus 

 toto cinereis, abdomine imo cum hypochondriis et subcaudalibus nigricantibus, albo aut maculatis vel 

 transfasciatis : subalaribus cinerascentibus, albo notatis : rostro et pedibus pallide brunneis olivascente 

 tinctis : iride sordide rubra. 



Adult. Crown of the head, nape, and all the hind neck rusty brown, with a broad mark of black down the 

 centre of each feather; lower sides of the neck and the upper wiug-coverts pale rusty brown, some of 

 the feathers tipped with white ; back and mantle brownish black, varied with white and broadly mar- 

 gined with rusty brown ; the secondary wing-coverts conspicuously ocellated on both webs, and termin- 

 ally margined with white ; upper tail-coverts dark rusty brown ; sides of the head, throat, fore neck, 

 and the whole of the breast pale cinereous grey, fading to silvery grey on the chin ; sides of the body, 

 flanks, abdomen, and under tail-coverts blackish brown, crossed by numerous irregular bands of white ; 

 wing-feathers dull olive-brown, dusky grey on their under surface, the first primary narrowly margined 

 on the outer web with white ; lining of wings greyish brown, obscurely marked with white ; tail-feathers 

 blackish brown, with rusty margins and obsolete spots of white. Irides dull red ; bill, tarsi, and toes 

 pale brown, tinged with olive. Total length 7 - 5 inches; wing, from flexure, 3 - 25; tail l - 6; bill, along 

 the ridge "7, along the edge of lower mandible - 8; bare tibia 5; tarsus T05 ; middle toe and claw 1'5 ; 

 hind toe and claw - 6. 



Obs. This species closely resembles the Australian O. palustris, but is distinguishable by its somewhat 

 larger size and the absence of white markings on the primaries. 



This handsome little Crake is found in both Islands ; but it is everywhere extremely rare and 

 difficult to obtain. It frequents the sedgy banks of creeks and rivers and the reed-covered lagoons 

 near the sea-coast. It swims with great facility, and, like other members of the genus, often 



2b2 



