243 
RUFOUS-TAILED WATER HEN. 
Galltnula pulchra, Swains. 
Head, neck, breast, and tail, bright rufous ; the rest of the 
plumage, above and beneath, black spotted with white. 
Crex pulchra, Gray, Griff. Cm. viii. 410. 
This very elegant species possesses all the typical 
characters of the Water Hens, except in the tail, 
which is particularly soft, and, in the specimen be- 
fore us, seems to be boat-shaped ; whether this ap- 
pearance is artificial, caused by a bad preparation of 
the skin, or whether it is really natural, cannot be at 
present determined. We are disposed, however, to 
adopt the latter opinion ; in which case the specific 
name may be advantageously changed to Alectura, 
as indicating at once its affinity, if not its absolute 
union, to the sub-genus Alecthelia. 
The colouring is very peculiar, and is sufficiently 
described in the specific character given above ; the 
white spots are clear, round, and well defined, both 
on the upper and the under plumage ; but on the 
rump and tail-covers they are smaller and more ob- 
scure ; the wing -feathers are very broad, and those 
of the tail rather longer than usual ; these latter, as 
just observed, are very soft and the webs loose, but 
