THE SLATE-BREASTED RAIL 



35 



Oeder Ralliformes. 

 Schizognathous birds (the maxillo-palatine process of the 

 maxillary- bones quite distinct from one another and from the 

 vomer). Legs comparatively long. Wings very short and 

 feeble. 



Family Rallidoe. 

 Toes long and slender, the hind toes at a higher level. 

 After-shaft to the feathers. Eggs numerous, cream-coloured 

 with dark spots. Young precocious. 



Key to the Genera. 

 A. — CuLMEN Longer than Middle Toe and Claw. 



Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw. 

 Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. 



B. — CuLMEN Shorter than Middle Toe and Claw. 



A. With no evident frontal shield. 



1. Tarsus about equal to middle toe and claw. 



Under wing coverts and axillaries distinctly 

 spotted or barred with white. 

 Under wing coverts and axillaries uniform. 

 Plumage striped above. Tail pointed. 



2. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw. 



Secondaries considerably shorter than primaricB. 

 Secondaries about equal to primaries. 



Culmen not swollen at the base. 

 Secondaries rather shorter than primaries. 



Culmen swollen at the base. 



B. With frontal shield. 



1. Toes short. Size 18 inches. 



Size 12 inches. 



2. Toes long. Not lobed laterally. 



Nostrils oval. Sombre plumage. 

 Nostrils rounded. Blue plumage. 

 Lobed laterally. 



Hypotoenidia. 

 Eulabeornis. 



Rallina. 

 Crejc 



Porzana. 



Poliolimnas. 



Amaurornis. 



Tribonyx. 

 Microtribonyx. 



Gallinula. 



Poi-phyrio. 



Pulica. 



The Slate-breasted Rail. 



Hypotcenidia hrachypiis. 



Australia, Tasmania and Auckland Islands. 



Dark olive-brown above, streaked with black; tail black with brown 

 edges; broad eyebrows of chestnut, extending to hind neck; throat white, 

 breast slate colour. Total length 7.5 inches, culmen 1.2, wing 3.85, tail 

 1.7, tarsus 1. 



Nest built in large tussocks of grass or rush in a swamp, and 

 composed of fine grass with usually a staging leading to the 

 nest, which lies from six inches to three feet from the water. 

 The number of eggs is generally five, in colour pinkish-white, 

 and blotched with light red and purple markings ; they measure 

 about 1.40 X 1.02 inch. 



