118 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
Coots, or the rictal bristles of many other birds, only the feathers 
on the forehead of the Rails bearing these horny tips are equally 
recumbent with the rest of the plumage. 
In the subjoined measurements, the longest tail and wing 
feathers were extracted before 1 measured them. 
After dissection, the following measurements were obtained : — 
Sternum, in 
line. 
Keel, greatest 
depth. 
Tarsus. 
Tibia. 
Fibia. 
A 
in. 
H 
in. 
s 
TU 
in. 
if 
in. 
2| 
in. 
1 *L 
Posterior notches in sternum not 
so wide as in B. 
B .. 
if 
TU 
it 
2f 
l tb 
More abrupt curve in keel towards 
vent than in A. 
A. Chin white, upper part of breast feathers tipped with white, 
darker and brighter throughout, both in plumage and legs than B, 
whose chin was rufous ; breast and belly leaden grey throughout. 
Both birds in good condition and plumage. 
A had the abdomen more rufous or creamy brown than B; this, 
and also the white chin, points to A being a bird of the year. 
It was a male by dissection, and B a female. 
The above measurements scarcely represent, on paper, the 
striking difference which was so apparent in nature. I don’t think 
I ever handled a larger bird than A, but I have weighed one 
(in good condition) J oz. lighter than B; and I believe I saw an 
altogether smaller specimen at Catfield on January 29th ult. — 
Maurice C. H. Bird. 
