AVIFAUNA OF LAYS AX. 



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5. PORZANULA PALMERI, Froh. 



LAYS AX CRAKE. 



Porzanula palmeri, Frohawk, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1892, ix. p. 247. 

 Pennula palmeri, Hartl. Abh. naturw. Ver. Brcm. xii. p. 399 (1892). 



Adult male. Top of the head and entire upper surface with tail pale sandy brown ; feathers 

 slate-coloured and whitish along the shaft at base, and with large deep blackish-brown 

 central patches on the exposed parts ; the feathers of the back are mostly mottled with 

 white, hut in some specimens the white is scarcely perceptible ; a line over the eye, 

 sides of the head and neck, chin, throat, breast, and abdomen pale slaty grey to ashy ; 

 feathers on the sides of the body of the colour of the upper surface, each with several 

 white spots, faintly outlined with black. Wings very small and rounded, first primary 

 about a third of an inch shorter than the second, second, third, and fourth about equal 

 and longest ; outer webs sandy brown with very pale margins, inner webs darker and 

 more smoky brown. Bill light olive-green, darker and inclining to purplish on the tip 

 and culmen; iris ruby-red; eyelid pale grey-green; tarsus and feet light olive-grey- 

 green. Total length about 6 inches (but the bird is capable of extending its neck 

 considerably, adding much to its entire length), culmen 0'65 to 0'7, wing 22 to 2 3, 

 tarsus 0-9 to 1, middle toe with claw 1*2 to 1*3, hind toe with claw 0*4. The tail is 

 very inconspicuous and only 0*8 to 9 inch in length, the tail-feathers only a little 

 stiffer than the coverts and so much like them that it is almost impossible to make out 

 their exact number. 



The sexes are similar, only that the females seem to be a little paler. 



Young birds have the entire under surface pale buff. 



The nestlings have a yellow bill and are covered with black down. 



Hab. Laysan Island only. 



The nest of the Laysan Crake is built under the thickest bunches of grass and there is a cover 

 placed over it with a hole on the side for the bird to enter. It consists of grass woven 

 together with very fine shreds of grass, fibres, and a little down, with here and there a feather 

 intermixed, the materials softer inside. It is loose, but has a cup about 2 inches deep and 

 measuring about 3 inches across. 



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