RALLID^. 317 



which it searches for the insects, worms, and seeds of 

 water-plants which constitute its food. It runs with 

 great swiftness, but does not refuse to take wing when 

 pursued. Its flesh is good. 

 Measurements of a female : — 



in. lin. 



Entire length 9 10 



Length of folded wing 4 6 



„ tarsus 19 



„ middle toe 1 11 



„ tail 18 



„ bill 2 1 



[This species has not been figured. — Ed.J 



371. Ortygometra pygmsea, Naum. BaiUon's Crake. 



Zapoma baillonii, Gould's Birds of Europe, pi. 344. 

 Ortygometra bailloni, Gurney, in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 3. 



„ „ Audersson, ibid. p. 7. 



Ortygometra tninuta, Layard's Cat. No. 633. 

 Or ex baillonii, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 421. 

 Zapornia pygmcea, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 10461. 



This pretty species is an inhabitant of the few marshes 

 existing in Damara Land. At Omanbonde, where it 

 breeds, I found it plentiful; it is also common in the 

 marshy districts about Lake Ngami, and on the rivers 

 Teoughe and Okavango ; and I likewise obtained a 

 specimen in Ondonga. It frequents alike the rank vege- 

 tation of the stagnant pools and the more scantily 

 sheltered rills, searching industriously for insects, worms, 

 slugs, snails, &c. When surprised it takes wing more 

 readily than most of its congeners, but flies only for a 

 very short distance, and drops amongst the aquatic 



