114 BALLID^. 



and blotched with underlying pale purple. They closely resemble 

 those of the Eails of the genus Ballus. Four examples measure 

 respectively : 2-01 by 1-3 ; 2 by 1-42 ; 1-99 by 1-43 ; 2-04 by 1-38. 



4. British Honduras, May (JFl Blanca- Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 nemix). 



Aramides ypacaha ( Vieill.). 



Aramides ypacaha, Scl. S/- Suds. Argent. Om. ii. p. 150 (1889) ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. Birds B. M. xxiii. p. 60 (1894) ; Blaauw, Bull. B. O. C. vii. 

 p. xliii (1898) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 98 (1899). 



The eggs of the Ypacaha Wood-Eail are of a broad oval form. 

 The ground is of a pinkish cream-colour and the markings resemble 

 those on the eggs of A. alhiventris, but are larger and coarser. 

 Three specimens measure respectivelv : 2-08 by 1*6 ; 2-1 by 1'55 ; 

 2-15 by 1-58. 



1. Laid in confinement (Holland). F. E. Blaauw, Esci. [P.]. 



2. Laid in confinement (Zool. Gardens, Zool. Society. 



London). 



Genus OCYDEOMUS, Wagler. 



Ocydromus australis (Sparrm.). 



Ocydromus australis, PoUs, Tr. N. Z. Inst. ii. p. 70 (1869), iii. p. 100 

 (1870) ; BvUer, Birds New Zeal. 2nd ed. ii. p. 116 (1888) ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. Birds B. M. xxiii. p. 64 (1894) ; Blaauw, Bull. B. O. C. vii. 

 p. xEii (1898) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 98 (1899). 



The eggs of the New Zealand South-Island Wood-hen vary from a 

 narrow to a broad oval form and have little gloss. They closely 

 resemble the eggs of Aramides ypacaha and measure from 2*15 to 

 2*4 iu length, and from 1-47 to 1-65 in breadth. 



1. New Zealand. Salvin-Godman Coll. 



1. New Zealand. Capt. Stokes [P.]. 



2. New Zealand, Feb. Dr. Lyall [P.]. 



2. Canterbury, South Island, New Capt. R. Snow [P.]. 



Zealand. 

 4. Laid in confinement (Holland). F. E. Blaauw, Esq. [P.]. 



Genus DRYOLIMNAS, Sharpe. 

 Dryolimnas cuvieri {Pucker.). 



Ballus g^ularis. Cowan, Proc. R. Phys. Soc. Edin. vii. p. 149 (1882) ; 

 Mune-Edwards Sf Grandidier, Hist, Nat. Madag., Ois. ii. p 569 

 pi. 306. fig. 2 (1885). ^ ' 



Dryolimnas cuvieri, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxiii. p. 70 (1894) • id 

 Hand-l. I T^. 99 (1899). 



The eggs of the Madagascar Rail are broad oval, sometimes 

 almost spheroidal, in shape, and of a pale creamy-white colour, with 

 pale purple shell-markings and reddish-brown surface-markings. 



