THE SORA RAIL. 151 



feeble rounded feathers; the upper and lower tail-coverts nearly as long as 

 the tail-feathers. 



Bill yellow at the base, dusky towards the end. Iris bright chestnut. 

 Feet yellowish-green; claws light brown. A broad band surrounding the 

 base of the bill, the central part of the crown, the chin, and the fore neck in 

 its whole length, brownish-black. Ear-coverts olive-brown; a band over 

 the eye, the cheeks, and the sides of the neck, ash-grey. Sides of the crown, 

 the hind neck, and the rest of the upper parts, olive-brown; the feathers 

 brownish-black in the centre, those on the back with two marginal lines of 

 white. Smaller wing-coverts of a lighter brown; secondary coverts margin- 

 ed with black and white markings; quills dusky olive-brown, as is the tail. 

 Middle of breast and abdomen greyish-white; sides barred with brownish- 

 black and greyish-white, as are the lateral feathers of the rump, those of the 

 abdomen reddish-yellow. 



Length to end of tail 9 T 3 ¥ inches; to end of wings 8f, to end of claws 12; 

 extent of wings 14; wing from flexure 4j\', tail 2; bill along the ridge T §, 

 along the edge of the lower mandible T §; tarsus ly 3 ^; middle toe 1 T 7 2, its claw 

 ■ff. Weight 7 oz. 



Adult Female. 



The female differs considerably from the male in colouring. The naked 

 parts and iris are similar, as are the upper parts generally; but the black 

 around the base of the bill, on the head, and fore neck is wanting, the fore 

 part of the head being light brown, the chin whitish, the sides of the neck 

 light greyish-brown. The white lines of the back are duller, and the dark 

 bands of the sides of a lighter tint. 



Young Male. 



The young male, after its first moult, is intermediate in colouring between 

 the adult male and the female, but more like the latter, the black on the 

 head and fore neck appearing in spots, and the sides of the neck being nearly 

 as in the female. 



