Birds of Celebes: Eallidae. 
703 
interesting observation that it is almost exclusively confined to the moister por- 
tions of the Empire where the rainfall exceeds 40 inches. Swinhoe found it 
breeding in Formosa, and Bernstein discovered its nest in Java; Vorderman 
remarks that it is to be met with throughout the year in the grass-lands and 
sawahs around Bataviar We are inclined to regard it as a winter visitor to 
Celebes, but the species is of concealed habits, and closer research by natura- 
lists travelling there is required before anything like knowledge can be pre- 
tended to. 
A very dark example with white spots on the outermost primary from one 
of the southern islands of the Loochoo Group has been separated by Dr. 
Stejneger as P. phaeopyga. Another allied form is P.paykulli (Ljungh), 
ranging from E. Siberia south to Borneo, a larger bird, with an ashy brown 
upper surface and broad white bars on the flanks and under tail-coverts. In 
Australasia the wide-spread P. tahiensis (Gm.) has certain affinities with P.fusca-, 
here the vinaceous rufous of the under-parts are replaced by slaty. 
Bernstein describes the Buddy Crake in Java as being partial to the 
same localities as Hgpotaenidia striata, but, owing to its concealed and quiet 
mode of life, he rarely saw the bird in nature. In Ceylon Col. Legge found 
it “on the borders of streams and damp sedgy spots”. He has also encountered 
it in a wood, where it flew a short distance and perched on a low tree. Mr. 
Gates writes that in Burmah it “is the only one of the Crakes which can be 
said to be at all common. It frequents all sorts of jungle, provided there is 
water about; and it comes out into the ojsen rather frequently”. 
GENUS LIMNOCORAX Ptrs. 
There seems to be little to distinguish this genus from Povzana, except its 
comparatively long hallux, which with the claw is about I’A times the length 
of the first phalanx of the inner toe, but it is also easily distinguished from 
the small Crakes by its entirely black plumage. The single species of the genus 
belongs to Africa, but has beea obtained also in Celebes. 
302. LIMNOCORAX NIGER (Gm.). 
African Black Crake. 
a. Rallus niger (1) Gm., S. N. 1788, I, 717 (ex Latham). 
b. Gallinula flavirostra (1) Swains., B. W. Afr. 1837, 11, 244, pi. 28. 
c. Ortygometra nigra (1) Gray, List Grallae Brit. Mus. 1844, 118; (2) Bohm, J. f. O. 
1882, 186; (3) Meyer, Isis, Dresden 1884, 53; (4) Biittik., Notes Leyden Mus. 
1885, VII, 245. 
d. Limnocorax flavirostris (1) Hartl. J. f. O. 1854, 301; (2) Gurney, Ibis 1862, 35; (3) 
Meyer, J. f. 0. 1873, 405; (4) id., J. f. 0. 1883, 149; (5) W. Bias., ib. 
e. Ortygometra flavirostris (1) Pelz., Verb. z.-b. Ges. Wien 1875, 47; (2) Oabanis, J. f. 0. 
1883, 150. 
