36 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



The Pectoral Rail. 



Eypotcenidia philippinensis. 



Australia, Malayan Archipelago, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, and 

 Moluccas. 



General colour above reddish -brown, all the feathers dark, with 

 reddish edgings and spangled with white spots on the mantle, back, and 

 wing coverts; lower back no white spots; tail feathers, reddish brown 

 centred with blac'k; crown of head brown, with black longitudinal spots, 

 broad band through eye dusky brown, over the lores a white band 

 extending above the eye; throat white, under surface white, with black 

 bars; under tail coverts black, with white bars. Total length 11.5 inches, 

 culmen 1.25, wing 5.7, tail 2.65, tarsus 1.55, middle toe and claw 1.85, 

 White spots increase with age. 



A-UStraZian Museum. 

 Lewin's or Slate-breasted Rail: Hypotaenidia brachypus. 



Nest a little herbage trodden down in some short thick 

 vegetation, usually near the water's edge. Eggs from five to 

 ten, pinkish-white, with a few roundish markings of reddish- 

 brown, those beneath the surface being purplish-grey. They 

 measure about 1.46 x 1.09 inch. 



The Chestnut-bellied Rail. 



Eulabeoruis castaneicentris. 



North Australia and Aru Islands. 



General colour above dark reddish-brown, tail feathers the same, 

 but more chestnut below; head slaty grey; chin whitish; under surface 

 chestnut; bill yellow at the base, rest horn colour. Total length 17 

 inches, culmen 2.2, wing 8.5, tail 4.7, tarsus 2.75, middle toe and claw 2.7. 



