THE BLUE-BEEASTED BANDED RAIL 
Hypotmitdla striata atbiventris {Sivains,} 
M ahy name : — Sint a r . 
Descripiion: — In general afvpearance this bird is not 
unlike the ^vater-rail of Britain. The beak is abom an incli 
long, the neck and legs long and the tail almost ridiculoitsly 
short. On the upptrparts the head and neck arc chestnut, 
the back and wings are a mixture of black and olive brown, the 
former with white spots and the latter with white bars. The 
under|:>ans of the head, and the neck and chest are bluish-grey 
and the abdomen and fianks are closely barred with black and 
white. 
The iris is red, the bill reddish at the base and brown at 
the tip and the legs olive-brown. Ten inches is the usual total 
length and the wing measures from 4^ to 5 inches. The sexes 
are alike in colour and size. 
Distnbuiicnti— This rail is found in Ceylon and thence 
north through India and Indo-China to south China. 
Throughout the Malay Peninsula it is common in suitable 
localities and working south it is found in Java, Sumatra and 
Borneo. To the cast, the Philippines and Celebes are included 
in its range, . From this area several local races are recognised. 
Status if! Singapore : — The blue-breasted rail is another 
bird like the bronze-winged dove, unlikely to be met with 
by the casual observer but sure enough to be discovered by the 
reader once he, or sfie, gets a little enthusiastic about birds 
and really starts to look for them oflf the high road. It is 
quite numerous in those parts of the island which are flat and 
damp, but at the same time well covered with grass or low 
vegetation. Snipe-shooters meet with them frequently and 
we have seen several in one morning within such a limited 
area as the flat ground on the small island of Blakang Mati. 
It breeds locally. Kelham's remark that their favourite 
resorts are very wet swaraps covered with low bushes is very 
apt. 
[68] 
