Rallus indicus, Blyth. 







Vernacular Names.-[ 



'HE Indian Water Rail, supposed by Mr. Dresser and 

 some others (who had never examined specimens) 

 to be identical with the European bird, " The Wa- 

 ter Rail," is really about as distinct as any nearly 

 allied species can well be. 



Both forms occur in India, and both, so far as I 

 know, are only cold season migrants to the country, 

 but their areas of distribution are quite distinct, and they come 

 to us from very different regions. 



It may be well to premise my remarks by indicating distinct- 

 ly the differences between the two species. 



The Indian bird has no doubt a somewhat longer wing. I 

 find in a considerable series of adults of both sexes of both spe- 

 cies, that the wings in indicus vary from 4*8 to 5*3, while in 

 aquaticus they vary from 4*5 to 4-9. But I do not find that 

 there is any appreciable difference in the thickness or length of 

 the tarsi, or in the length of the bills between the two species, 

 though the dimensions of these parts vary much in individuals 

 of both forms. 



In indicus the bills, measured from the point of the frontal 

 skin, vary from 1*5 to r6y, while in aquaticus they vary from 

 1*48 to 176. Again, the tarsi of indicus vary from 1*55 to 175, 

 and in aquaticus from 1*55 to 172 ; but I have only ten indicus 

 and nine aquaticus before me, and doubtless with twenty of each 

 it would be found that there was absolutely no difference in the 

 bills and tarsi. 



But besides the larger wing, the plumage differs consi- 

 derably. In aquaticus there is a dusky spot in front of the 

 eye, but the whole of the ear-coverts and the cheeks are unico- 

 lorous with the sides of the head, neck and breast ; in indicus the 

 dusky spot is darker, larger, and more conspicuous, and it is 

 continued backwards as a distinct line or band under the eye* 

 and along the upper portion of the ear-coverts. 



In indic?is there is always a short distinctly paler stripe over 

 the lores from close to the base of the lower mandible to a point 



33 



