250 THE BLUE-BREASTED BANDED RAIL. 



But Mr. Oates has seen many more nests of this species than 

 any of us, and he says : — 



" This bird is very common in Lower Pegu, and I have 

 found no less than eight nests. The breeding season seems to 

 extend from about the ist of July to the I ith October, on which 

 latter date a nest of well-incubated eggs was found. 



" The nest is a mere pad of soft grass, leaves, and the outer 

 rind of the elephant grass, about eight inches in diameter and one 

 thick, placed in a tuft of grass, always near water, and raised a few 

 inches above the ground. The coarse grass growing round 

 paddy fields is a favourite locality. The bird sits very closely, 

 and the nest is not easy to discover. The male bird sits on the 

 eggs, at least at times, and I killed one with a stick while he was 

 sitting on seven eggs. 



" Seven is the full number of eggs, occasionally six only. In 

 length they vary from 1*43 to n8, and in breadth from 1*08 

 to 0*96, but the average of 31 eggs is 1*34 by I'OO ; some are 

 almost glossless, others are considerably glossy. The ground 

 colour is pinkish stone, pale when fresh and darkening as incu- 

 bation proceeds. The shell markings consist of blotches and 

 splashes of pale purple evenly, but sparingly, distributed over 

 the egg, and the surface marks consist of large blotches and 

 streaks of rather bright rusty brown. These marks are larger 

 at the thick end than elsewhere, and run chiefly in the direc- 

 tion of the longer axis of the egg. In some eggs the marks 

 form a distinct cap, and the shell marks are very few. All the 

 eggs are exceedingly beautiful." 



The eggs of this species obtained in India are regular ovals 

 of the usual Water-Hen type. The shell is tolerably fine and 

 compact, but they have not much gloss. The ground colour 

 varies from white to salmon pink. The markings consist of 

 spots, specks, streaks, and blotches, varying from maroon red 

 to reddish brown, and smaller spots and streaks of dull inky 

 purple or grey. The markings apparently, never very dense or 

 numerous, are chiefly confined to the larger end. 



The eggs I possess only vary from i'28 to 1*41 in length, 

 and from 0*98 to IT3 in width, but the average of twenty-four is 

 I 35 by 1 "02 nearly. 



The DIMENSIONS of this species vary very considerably, but I 

 cannot make out that there is any constant difference in size 

 between the sexes, though possibly with a very large series of 

 measurements the females would prove to average slightly larger. 

 As it is, the largest and the smallest birds we have ever measured 

 were both females. 



Length, 9*8 to 11*5 ; expanse, 14*25 to 17*5 ; wing, 4-5 to 

 5-0 ; tail from vent, 1*5 to 2*25 ; tarsus, 135 to 1*62 ; bill from 

 gape, 1 35 to 1*82 ; weight, y6 ozs. to 5 ozs. 



These are all specimens measured in the flesh ; in twenty- 



