(SPOTTED RAIL.)
[Plate XIX.]
[Illustration: RALLUS MACULATUS.]
+Rallus maculatus+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 139; _iid. P. Z. S._
1868, p. 444; _Durnford, Ibis_, 1878, p. 65 (Buenos Ayres);
_Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 276 (Entrerios); _Withington, Ibis_,
1888, p. 471 (Lomas de Zamora).
_Description._--Above blackish; back and wings dark olive-brown,
spotted all over with white: beneath barred across with white and
black; chin and crissum white; bill yellow, with a bright red spot
at the base; feet pale brown: whole length 11·0 inches, wing 5·2,
tail 2·0. _Female_ similar.
_Hab._ South America.
The Spotted Rail, which has a wide distribution in South America, occurs
as far south as Buenos Ayres. Our figure is taken from an example of
this species obtained by Mr. F. Withington in September 1885 in the
Lomas de Zamora. Concerning its nesting-habits he sends the following
note:--"It breeds amongst the reeds, and its nest is placed about 18
inches from the water. To reach it the birds collect a heap of reeds,
grass, and other materials, and alongside form an inclined platform that
answers the purpose of a staircase, by which the birds ascend or descend
with ease. The usual clutch of eggs is seven, but I have taken fifteen
from one nest, all good. These, of course, could not have been laid by
one bird."