In oiu* memoir on the American Eallidm, recently published in tbe Zoological Society’s
“ Proceedings,”* we have given a complete account of the species of Rallus which inhabit the
New World.
The two birds now figured belong to the second section of our arrangement, and along
with R. virginianus form a group of small species which have the back variegated with brown,
and are, in fact, the American representatives of the well-known Water-iuil {Rnihcs aquaticus,)
of Europe.
These three species may he distinguished as follows
1. 12. virginianus.
L in n . Sysfc. Nafc. p. 203 : Scl. e t S a k . P.Z.S . 1S68, p. 445.
Diagn. S u b tu s rufescens.
U a b . W h o le o f N o rth Am e ric a (B a ird ) : Mex ico ; G u atem a la (S a lein ).
2. I t. antarcticus, tab . Ixxxii.
Diagn. S u b tù s p lum b eu s : la te rib u s d istiu c tè albo v itta tis.
H a b . Chili {P h ilip p i) : P a ta g o n ia {King).
3 . i2. semiplumheus, tab . Ixxsiii.
B ia g n . S u b tù s fere omninò plumbeus.
H a b . I n te r io r o f N ew Granada.
» P.Z.S. 1808, p. 443.