RALLUS PECTORALIS, Cuv. 
Pectoral Rail. 
Rallus pectoralis, Cuv. in Mus. Paris. — Less. Traite d’Orn., p. 536. 
Kul-lee of the Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia. 
Land Rail of the Colonists. 
The Pectoral Rail is a summer visitant to New South Wales, but if we regard the Rails from Southern 
and Western Australia, which are rather smaller and have somewhat more attenuated bills, as mere local 
varieties, the above remark will extend to the southern portion of the continent generally ; in fact it 
may then be said to be dispersed over the whole of this part of the country, in all situations suitable to its 
habits. It usually makes its appearance in New South Wales in the month of August, and retires again in 
February ; the extent of its range northwards, however, I have not satisfactorily ascertained ; for although I 
have specimens from the north coast and Raine’s Islet, they present sufficient differences in their form 
and markings to warrant the supposition of their being a distinct species. 
In habits, actions and general economy the Rallus pectoralis closely assimilates to the Land Rail {Ortyo- 
metra Crew) of Europe ; grassy flats between the hills and humid places covered with dense herbage being 
the localities favourable to its mode of life. It has the same indisposition for exposing Itself to view, the 
same manner of eluding pursuit by running through the grasses, and when forced to quit its retreat flies 
low, straight, and with the same flapping motion of the wing. 
Tlie eggs, which are placed on the ground, are four or six in number, of a cream-colour, with numerous 
large Irregular blotches of dark chestnut-red at the larger end, and a few smaller ones distributed over 
the remainder of their surface ; they are one inch and three-eighths long by one inch broad. It breeds 
in September, October and November. 
Tlie stomach is very muscular, and is usually found to contain portions of grasses, seeds, and a quantity of 
sand. Its flesh forms an excellent article for the table, and the bird itself affords considerable amusement 
to the sportsman, as pointers will stand to it as to the Land Rail of Europe. 
The sexes are so similar in colour and markings that they are not easily distinguishable from each other, 
and the young at an early age assume the plumage of the adult. 
Crown of the head and all the upper surface olive ; each feather of the back and scapularies blackish 
brown in the centre ; the feathers at the back of the neck with a double spot of black and white near the 
edge of each web ; a broad stripe of chestnut-red commences at the base of the bill, passes through the eye 
and unites at the occiput ; wing-coverts olive, spotted on the margins with black and white ; primaries 
dark brown, the two outer ones crossed by narrow bars of white, and the remainder with broad bars of dull 
chestnut-red ; stripe over the eye and the chin greyish white, deepening into dark grey on the lower part of 
the throat ; under surface brownish black, crossed by numerous narrow well-defined bars of greyish white ; 
across the breast a broad band of deep sandy buff ; thigh and vent buff ; under tail-coverts black, barred 
with white and tipped with buff ; bill red at the base, passing into brown at the tip ; irides reddish hazel ; 
feet brown. 
In some specimens the white spottings of the upper surface are much brighter than in others. 
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size. 
