WATER RAIL. 115 



and a half in length ; the wing, from the carpus to the tip, 

 four inches nine lines ; the beak, one inch nine lines, dusky 

 at the tip and upper ridge, and bright red at the base, which 

 colour fades gradually in that of the dusky tip ; the eye is 

 Venetian red. The top of the head, neck, baclr, sca- 

 pulars, wing-coverts, tertials, and rump, are olivacious dusky 

 brown, with black oval centres to the feathers ; the quills are 

 dusky, as also the tail. A streak over the eye, the cheeks, 

 chin, sides and front of the neck, and breast are bluish 

 slate-colour ; the sides and flanks are barred black and white ; 

 the vent is raw umber ; under tail-coverts, soiled white. The 

 legs are brownish-claret, with bluish joints. 



The male and female are alike. 



The egg figured 207 is that of the Water Rail. 



