206 
TROGLODYTE RAIL. 
the middle of May, according to Wilson, they gene- 
rally commence laying and building at the same 
time ; the first egg being usually dropped in a 
slight cavity, lined with a little dry grass pulled for 
the purpose, which, as the number of the eggs in- 
crease to their usual complement, ten, is gradually 
added to, until it rises to the height of twelve inches 
or more : the eggs are of a pale clay-colour, spotted 
with dark red, and are alleged to be admirable eating. 
The young about the age of three weeks are covered 
with black down, with the exception of a spot of 
white on the auricles, and a streak of the same along 
the side of the breast, belly, and fore part of the 
thigh. Their food consists chiefly of molluscous ani- 
mals, but they occasionally devour small crabs. 
TROGLODYTE KAIL. 
(Rallus australis.) 
Ra. ciiiereo-Jerrugi/ieii^, alis cauddque saturate bruniieis, pennis 
nigro Jasciatis. 
Ashy -rust-coloured Rail witli the wings aud tail dark brown, the 
feathers fasciated mth black. 
Rallus australis. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1. 71/. Lath. Lid. Orn. 2. 
756. 
Rallus troglodytes. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1. 713. 
Troglodyte Rail. Lath. Gen. Syn. 5. 229. Lath. Syn. Sup. 
255. 
A LARGE species : length seventeen inches : beak 
reddish-brown : irides dirty yellow : the feathers of 
