1840.] 



of the Peninsula of India. 



205 



red ; wing spur also reddish. Length 1 8 inches ; bill at gape 1 1 ; tarsus 

 S-rV ; middle toe and claw nearly 5 ; hind do. 2i. 



Genus FULICA, I^.— Coot. 



329. — i^. atra, L.~Dasree or Dasurnee, B.—Bald Coot. 



The Common Coot of Europe is a common and abundant bird on most 

 of the Indian tanks, even on those that dry up during the hot months. 

 Lives chiefly on vegetable matters. 



Irides blood red ; bill and frontal plate white ; legs green reddish at 

 the sides ; feet leaden coloured. Length nearly 18 inches. 



Genus RALLUS, L.—RaiL 



330. — B. Guloris, Horsf. ? — R. cceridescens, Lath.? — Blue- throated 

 Bail. 



The species of 2?«z7, of which I give a description below, is found in 

 reeds and long grass,-by the sides of tanks, rivers and v/ater-courses. I 

 have only seen it in Travancore and Cochin, but it is also enumerated 

 in Mr. Elliot's Catalogue, as found in Dharwar. 



Descr. — Crown, top of the head and nape, deep chestnut, diverging 

 into two streaks on the back of neck ; chin white ; cheeks, sides of neck, 

 throat and breast, light leaden ; back, beneath, and wings dark brownish, 

 with a strong olive gloss, and numerous narrow white transverse bars, 

 most numerous on the abdomen and thighs. 



Bill sanguineous at the base, and diaphanous, brownish at the tip ; 

 legs brown, with a reddish tinge. Length about 11 inches ; wing ; 

 tarsus l/g- ; bill at front ly^^. 



331. — i?. rifescens, Vieill. ?— /?. PMlippensis.'^—R. striatus. ?—R. 

 Ceyloidcus. ? — Largpr hroivn rail. 



I procured a single specimen of a Rail near Cochin, which I cannot 

 refer exactly to any described species, but which appears to approach 

 some of the species named above. I add a brief description : head 

 deep brown ; above olive brown ; the feather edged with pale yellowish 

 rufous ; cheeks and sides of neck fawn ; chin and throat white ; beneath 

 pale fawn, with numerous transverse dark marks ; middle of abdomen 

 white ; shoulder with a tinge of cinereous and edged white. Length 

 14 inches ; wing 7 ; tarsus 2^ ; tail 3 ; bill at the front, including frontal 

 plate 3^. 



