257 



EALLUS AQUATICUS. 



(WATER-RAIL.) 



Rallus aquaticus, Briss. Orn. v. p. 151, pi. xii. fig. 2 (1760). 



Rallus aquaticus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 262 (1766). 



Scolopax obscura, S. G. Gmel. Reise d. Eussl. iii. p. 90, pi. xvii. (1774). 



Le Rale d'eau, Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. viii. p. 154, pi. xiii. (1781). 



Rallus sericeus, Leach, Syst. Cat. M. & B. Brit. Mus. p. 33 (1816). 



Rallus germanicus, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 690 (1831). 



Rallus indicus, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xviii. p. 820 (1849). 



Rallus minor, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 328 (1855). 



Rallus fiiscilateralis, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 328 (1855). 



Aramus aquaticus, G. R. Gray, Hand-1. of B. iii. p. 59. no. 10408 (1871). 



Rale d'eau, French ; Frango d'agua, Portuguese ; Rascon, Spanish ; Porciglione, Italian ; 

 Gallotz-ta-scitua, Maltese ; Wasserralle, German ; Waterral, Dutch ; Vandrixe, Danish ; 

 Jearakona, Fseroese ; Keldusvin, Icelandic ; Vandrixe, Norwegian ; Vattenrall, Swedish ; 

 Rantakana, Finnish. 



Figure notabiles. 



D'Aubenton, PL Enl. 749 ; Werner, Atlas, Gralles, pi. 33 ; Kjserb. Orn. Dan. taf. 38, and 

 Suppl. pi. 18 ; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 35. fig. 8 ; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 235 ; 

 Sundevall, Svensk. Fogl. pi. 14. fig. 1 ; Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 339 ; id. B. of G. Brit. iv. 

 pi. 86 ; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. pi. 257. 



Ad. pileo, collo postico et corpore suprk olivaceo-fulvidis conspicue nigricanti notatis : tectricibus alarum 

 minus nigricanti notatis : remigibus olivaceo-fuscis : cauda, nigro-fusca, rectricibus pallidiore olivaceo- 

 fusco marginatis : loris fuliginosis : capitis lateribus, gula, gutture et corpore subtus saturate schistaceo- 

 caeruleis : abdomine imo centraliter fusco-cervino, bypocbondriis nigris albo transfasciatis, subcaudalibus 

 nigris cervino apicatis, sed irnis cauda, proximis fere omnino albis : rostro fusco, maxilla inferiore 

 rubra : iride rubra. : pedibus fusco-incarnatis. 



Juv. adulto similis sed supra magis olivaeeus, gutture et pectore sordidioribus et cervino lavatis, mento albido. 



Adult Male (Stockholm). Crown, nape, and hind neck blackish, marked with fulvous brown; upper parts 

 generally olivaceous fulvescent brown, broadly blotched with blackish, the wing-coverts but slightly 

 marked with this colour ; quills deep brown with an olivaceous tinge ; tail rather darker brown, the 

 feathers bordered with olivaceous brown ; lores sooty blackish ; sides of the head, throat, neck, breast 

 down to the upper abdomen, deep slaty blue ; abdomen and flanks black barred with white, the centre 

 of the lower abdomen brownish buff or creamy brown with a grey tinge, this colour extending onto the 

 upper part of the under tail-coverts, which, however, are black at the base, the lower portion next to 

 the tail being white, forming a conspicuous white patch ; bill dark brown, except at the base of the lower 



