RAIL. 369 



lays five or six* pale yellowish eggs, marked all over, irregularly, 

 with dusky brown spots. — This species is found in plenty on the 

 Continent of Europe, Sweden, Norway, and Russia, and the west 

 part of Siberia; as well as throughout Germany, France, Spain, and 

 Italy ; but there seems migratory ; is common in the winter, in the 

 Province of Andalusia, and on all parts of the Isthmus of Gibraltar, 

 especially in the flooded season ; is seen, spring and autumn, 

 passing over the Island of Malta, and has been met with at sea, 

 50 leagues distant from the Coast of Portugal. Its food supposed 

 to consist of insects and worms principally. Dr. Lamb, of Newbury, 

 on opening one, found the stomach very muscular, and containing 

 only a few broken small shells.f 



2.— NEW-HOLLAND RAIL. 



SIZE large ; height of the bill from the ground when standing 

 twenty inches. Bill one inch and a half long, green, the end yellow ; 

 crown of the head and nape rufous ; the rest of the parts above olive- 

 brown, inclining to red brown on the back ; sides under the eye, 

 and all beneath from the chin slaty grey, increasing to black on the 

 belly, where it is crossed with numerous lines of white ; vent plain ; 

 thighs grey ; tail short, and hid by the wings when closed ; under 

 the middle of the wing a tuft of white ; legs stout, full of segments, 

 length of the shins three inches and a half; middle toe three inches, 

 colour dusky ; claws moderate. 



Inhabits New South Wales. — In the collection of Gen. Da vies. 



* From eight to twelve. — Bechstein. Colonel Montagu says, frequently in willow beds. 

 In such a situation he found one with six eggs, of a spotless white, and very smooth, rather 

 larger than those of a Blackbird ; the shape a short oval, with both ends nearly alike. — 

 Orii. Diet. 



f Dr. Fleming met with one, having the stomach exclusively filled with the fry of the 

 helix lucida. — Wern. Trans. V. iii. 180. 



vol. IX. B B B 



