770 PORZANA FUSCA. 



Porzana (Ballina) eryihroihorax, Temm. & Schlegel, from Japan and China, is considered to be doubtfully distinct 

 from the present. It is said by Swinhoe to have longer toes, and the pectoral red not extending down so far 

 upon the belly; on the other hand, Schlegel (Mus. Pays-Bas, Ralli, p. 21), writing of Japanese specimens, 

 savs : — " Absolument semblable a la Ballina fusca, mais d'une taille plus forte, aile 4 pouces 1 ligne a 4 ponces 

 2 lignes. . . . doigt du milieu 14 lignes et demie a 16 lignes." These dimensions (4 inches 2 lines and Hi lines) for 

 wing and middle toe do not, however, exceed Mr. Hume's of a female from Calcutta, viz. 4-2 and 1*75 inch 

 (middle toe with claw). On the evidence of one Japanese example from the Swinhoe collection (Hakadodi, 

 June) now before me, I am uuable to look upon it in any other light but that of a somewhat larger or more 

 robust local race of our bird — perhaps worthy of being called a subspecies of it. The distribution of colour, even 

 to the slightly dusky wash on the lores, is absolutely the same ; but the tint of the hind neck and upper back is 

 slightly greener, and the red of the face and fore neck not quite so deep as in a Ceylon specimen. Irs dimensions 

 are : — wing 4-4 inches ; tarsus 1-45 ; middle toe and claw T67 ; bill to gape H03. Its longer wing and stout bill 

 are chiefly noticeable on a comparison with our bird. 



Two other members of this genus found in India, and which miijM occur in Ceylon in the cool season, are : — 



The Brown Bail, P. alcool, Sykes. Brown above, with a white chin, and the breast and belly ashy brown ; rump ashy 

 brown : wing about 7 inches. 



The Spotted Bail of Europe, P. maruetta, Leach, which is a cold-weather visitant to the empire. It has the upper 

 surface olive-brown, marked with white, not unlike Baillon's Crake : but it has a pale eye-streak ; the neck and 

 breast are olivaceous, spotted with white, and the belly is white : wing 44 inches. 



Porzana bicolor, "Walden, is another species from the Himalayan districts. The wing measures 4-5 inches ; and its 

 prevailing colours are ashy grey on the throat, neck, breast, abdomen, flanks, and thigh-coverts, the tail and 

 coverts being darker grey, and the hind neck, back, rump, shoulders, and scapulars ferruginous olive. It has been 

 lately discovered near Darjiling, and was described by the late Marquis of Tweeddale in the ' Annals and 

 Magazine of Natural History," lb72, ix. p. 47. 



Distribution. — This Small Rail is migratory to Ceylon, appearing in September and probably departing 

 again about April. It visits the island in very limited numbers, or it would be more often met with; and 

 I am under the impression that, like the next species, it betakes itself chiefly to the hills. Layard mentions 

 having only seen three specimens, all from Kotte : the time of the year is not stated ; but it may be concluded 

 that they were taken about November, at which season the natives of that district generally bring in birds 

 to Colombo for sale. Several specimens were met with by me in Uva in September 1875 ; and on one occasion 

 I surprised a pair together near Lunugalla in Madulsima. Mr. Bligh has met with it in the low country at 

 "Wellaway ; and I have heard of it being seen about the marshes and paddy-fields of the Fort-Macdonald 

 district. 



Jerdon remarks, concerning the distribution of this species, that it is found throughout India, not very 

 common in the south, but more abundant in the north, especially in the well-watered province of Lower 

 Bengal. Mr. Hume likewise observes that it is pretty plentiful in Lower Bengal ; and thence to the north- 

 west it probably extends sparingly through the country; at any rate Dr. Stoliczka found it breeding in Cashmir 

 at the Woolar lake. In this direction it is very rare, as it is not recorded by Messrs. Hume, Butler, or 

 Adam from Bajpootana, Sindh, or Guzerat. In the opposite direction towards the East its range is more 

 extensive, though even there it is not common. Mr. Oates procured a pair at Boulay in Upper Pegu; but 

 in Tenasserim Mr. Hume has not heard of it occurring, though Blyth says it is common in Burmah. It 

 no doubt occurs in the Malay peninsula, for it is found in the Straits in the island of Singapore, having been 

 procured there by Herr Miillcr. In Java it would appear to be not uncommon, for Professor Schlegel 

 tabulates five specimens from that island as being in the museum at Leiden. It was procured in Borneo bv 

 Sehwancr, and in the Philippines by Messrs. Verreaux and Cuming. I am unable to say, from want of 

 data, whether it is found in Cochin China ; but further north the Ruddy Rail, which inhabits the Chinese 

 empire, is set down by Swinhoe in his catalogue to be the same (P. erythrothorax) as the Japanese race. 



Habits. — This Crake does not always confine itself to the vicinity of water, although it is found on the 

 borders of streams and damp sedgy spots. I have met with it in a wood at some distance from water, and 

 when it was flushed it flew a short distance and perched in a low tree. Its flight is not swift, although the 

 movement of its wings is rapid. 



