J56 YELLOW-BREASTED RAIL. 



longer than the tarsus; inner toe considerably shorter than the outer; toes 

 free, with numerous scutella above. Claws much compressed, slightly- 

 arched, tapering to a fine point, flat and marginate beneath. 



Plumage rather stiff, but soft, blended, and slightly glossed above. 

 Feathers of the forehead somewhat bristly, broad and rounded; of the hind 

 parts elongated. Wings short, broad, concave; alula large, primaries curved, 

 broad, abruptly rounded, the second longest, third scarcely shorter, first 

 equal to seventh; secondaries broad and rounded, the inner elongated, some 

 of them extending a quarter of an inch beyond the longest primary. Tail 

 extremely short, much rounded, of ten feeble rounded feathers; the upper 

 and lower tail-coverts as long as the tail-feathers. 



Bill greenish-black, with the base dull yellowish-orange. Iris hazel. Feet 

 and claws light flesh-colour. Upper part of the head and hind neck black- 

 ish-brown, the feathers slightly edged with dull light brownish-red, those on 

 the occiput and hind neck with a small white spot on the outer edge. The 

 upper parts are brownish-black, longitudinally streaked with brownish- 

 yellow, each feather being broadly margined with the latter, and crossed 

 with from one to three narrow white bars. Alula greyish-brown, each 

 feather with a white dot near the tip; primaries similar, the outer four 

 unspotted; the edge of the wing, and the basal half of the outer web of 

 the first primary yellowish-white; outer secondaries greyish-brown, white 

 towards the end, three of them having that colour extending over more than 

 half of their length; inner secondaries like the back, as are the tail-feathers. 

 Loral space and a line beyond the eye blackish-brown. Sides of the head, 

 neck, and anterior part of the body light brownish-red, each feather termi- 

 nally margined with deep brown; sides like the back; axillaries, lower wing- 

 coverts, and middle of the abdomen, pure white; sides of the rump like the 

 back; lower tail-coverts brownish-red, with faint whitish dots. 



Length to end of tail 7f inches, to end of claws 9f, to end of wings 7; 

 extent of wings 12^; wing from flexure 3^; tail 1 T %; tarsus y^; first toe and 

 claw T y, second toe ||, its claw -^) third toe 1 t Vj its claw ff ; fourth toe 

 -j- !, its claw ||. Weight 2f oz. 



The female is smaller than the male, but similar in colour. 



Length to end of tail 6| inches, to end of claws 8|; extent of wings 11. 

 Weight 2 oz. 



