i 





In our memoir on the American Eallidse, recently published in the Zoological Society's 

 " Proceedings,"* we have given a complete account of the species of Rallus which inhabit the 

 New World. 



The two birds now figured belong to the second section of our arrangement, and along 

 with R. virginianus form a group of small species which have the back variegated with brown, 

 and are, in fact, the American representatives of the well-known Water-rail [Rallus aquattciis,) 

 of Europe. 



These three species may be distinguished as follows : — 



1. M. virginianus. 



Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 263 : Scl. et Salv. P.Z.S. 1868, p. 445. 

 Diagn. Subtiis rufescens. 

 Sab. Whole of North America (Baird) : Mexico : Guatemala (Salvin). 



2. H. antarcticus, tab. lxxxii. 



Diagn. Subtus plumbeus : lateribus distincte albo vittatis. 

 Sal. Chili (Philippi) : Patagonia (King). 



3. H. semiplumbeus, tab. lxxxiii. 



Diagn. Subtus fere omnino plumbeus. 

 Sab. Interior of New Granada. 



* P.Z.S. 1868, p. 443. 



Apeil, 1869. 



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