178 
THE YIRGrHSriAN RAIL. 
the base. Upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly curved, the ridge 
flattish at the base, and extending a little on the forehead, convex and nar- 
row towards the end ; a deep groove runs on either side parallel to the 
ridge for two-thirds of the whole length ; the edges inflected, with a very 
slight notch close to the tip. Nostrils lateral, linear, direct, open and per- 
vious. Lower mandible with the angle very long, extremely narrow, the 
sides erect, slightly convex, the edges inflected, the tip narrowed, the 
lorsal and marginal outlines slightly arched. 
Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck rather long. Body slender, 
much compressed. Feet rather long ; tibia bare a considerable way above 
the joint ; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, anteriorly covered with 
broad scutella, posteriorly with smaller, and on the sides reticulated. Hind 
toe very small and slender, middle toe longest, fourth considerably shorter, 
and but little longer than the second ; toes free, scutellate above, com- 
pressed, granulate beneath. Claws of moderate length, arched, slender, 
much compressed, acute, flat, and marginate beneath. 
Plumage rather stiff, compact, slightly glossed on the back. Feathers of 
the head and neck short and blended ; of the forehead with the shaft en- 
larged and extended beyond the tip. Wings very short and broad ; alula 
large ; primaries curved, broad, tapering, but obtuse, third longest, second 
very little shorter, first and sixth about equal ; secondaries broad and 
rounded. Tail extremely short, much rounded, of twelve feeble rounded 
feathers ; the upper and lower tail-coverts nearly as long as the tail-feathers. 
Bill dark brown, the lower mandible and edges of upper yellowish-brown. 
Iris bright red. Feet yellowish-brown, tinged with olive; claws more dusky. 
The general colour of the upper parts is deep brownish-black, with streaks 
of light olive-brown ; sides of the head dull bluish-grey, loral space of a 
deeper tint ; a brownish orange line over the eye. Alula, primary quills, 
and tail, blackish-brown ; secondary quills like the back, but edged with 
greenish-brown, smaller coverts dark chestnut. Throat reddish-white ; fore 
neck and breast bright orange-brown, approaching to yellowish-red ; sides, 
abdomen, and lower-wing coverts barred with brownish-black and white, 
the bands of the latter narrower ; tibial feathers dusky anteriorly, light 
reddish behind. Lower tail-coverts each with a central brownish-black 
spot, the edges white, the tips pale reddish. 
Length to end of tail 10i inches, to end of claws 13, extent of wings 14f ; 
bill 1 t 7 2 ; tarsus 1 T V, middle toe and claw lfV ; wing from flexure 41, tail Iff . 
Adult Female. 
The female is considerably smaller than the male, but resembles it in 
colouring, only the dark tints of the upper parts are lighter, the chestnut 
of the wings paler, and the lower parts of a less bright red. 
