WATER RAIL. 
329 
of Europe its range appears very restricted ; we have 
never received it with any collection, and the notices 
of its occurrence are very scanty. Pennant men- 
tions Malta, and Mr. Strickland Smyrna.* 
An adult male, shot in this vicinity, has the crown 
and all the upper parts yellowish-hrown, tinted with 
oil-green, the centre of each feather black ; on the 
centre of the back occupying nearly the whole fea- 
ther, but on the lower part and scapulars being in 
the centre only, and there on the wings and tail, 
allowing the pale colour to be the prevailing one ; 
quills nearly clove-brown ; on the forehead, until 
beyond the line of the eyes, the shafts of each fea- 
ther is strong, and protrudes in a horny point ; the 
chin greyish-white ; the region of the eyes, cheeks, 
sides of the neck, and under parts, until in a line 
with the legs, bluish-grey ; the flanks black, barred 
with w'hite ; tips of the feathers reddish wood-browm, 
forming a line of that colour along the centre of the 
vent, joining with the under tail-coverts, which are 
similar, their basal half being black, which some- 
times appears mixed with them ; axillary feathers 
barred with black and white ; the bill is blackish- 
brown at the tip, at the base tile-red, becoming 
brighter and orange-red. upon the edges of the gape ; 
legs greenish-brown. White varieties sometimes 
occur. 
On the authority of Yarrell. 
