156 
YELLOW-BREASTED RAIL. 
longer than the tarsus ; inner toe considerably shorter than the outer ; toes 
free, with numerous scutella above. Claws much compressed, slightly 
arched, tapering to a fine point, flat and marginate beneath. 
Plumage rather stiff, but soft, blended, and slightly glossed above. 
Feathers of the forehead somewhat bristly, broad and rounded ; of the hind 
parts elongated. Wings short, broad, concave ; alula large, primaries 
curved, broad, abruptly rounded, the second longest, third scarcely shorter, 
first equal to seventh ; secondaries broad and rounded, the inner elongated, 
some of them extending a quarter of an inch beyond the longest primary. 
Tail extremely short, much rounded, of ten feeble rounded feathers ; the 
upper and lower tail-coverts as long as the tail-feathers. 
Bill greenish-black, with the base dull yellowish-orange. Iris hazel. Feet 
and claws light flesh-colour. Upper part of the head and hind neck black- 
ish-brown, the feathers slightly edged with dull light brownish-red, those on 
the occiput and hind neck with a small white spot on the outer edge. The 
upper parts are brownish-black, longitudinally streaked with brownish- 
yellow, each feather being broadly margined with the latter, and crossed 
with from one to three narrow white bars. Alula greyish-brown, each 
feather with a white dot near the tip ; primaries similar, the outer four 
unspotted ; the edge of the wing, and the basal half of the outer web of 
the first primary yellowish-white ; outer secondaries greyish-brown, white 
towards the end, three of them having that colour extending over more than 
half of their length ; inner secondaries like the back, as are the tail-feathers. 
Loral space and a line beyond the eye blackish-brown. Sides of the head, 
neck, and anterior part of the body light brownish-red, each feather ter- 
minally margined with deep brown ; sides like the back ; axillaries, lower 
wing-coverts, and middle of the abdomen, pure white ; sides of the rump 
like the back ; lower tail-coverts brownish-red, with faint whitish dots. 
Length to end of tail 73 inches, to end of claws 93, to end of wings 7 ; 
extent of wings 12J ; wing from flexure 3 T 9 2 ; tail 1 T 4 2 ; tarsus ; first toe 
and claw fL ; second toe }|, its claw r \ ; third toe 1 T V ; its clawf fourth 
toe its claw f-j. Weight 23 oz. 
The female is smaller than the male, but similar in colour. 
Length to end of tail 63 inches, to end of claws 83 ; extent of wings 11 . 
height 2 oz. 
