Porzana auricularis Reichenbach, Jour. für Orn. (1898), 139;
Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 102; Oates, Cat. Birds' Eggs (1901),
1, 118.
Porzana pusilla (not of Pallas) Sharpe, Cat. Birds
Brit. Mus. (1894), 23, 106; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List
(1906), 16.
Luzon (Heriot). Eastern Siberia, Japan, China, Burmah, India,
Ceylon, Borneo.
Adult male.--General color above dark ochraceous-brown with black
centers to nearly all the feathers which are marked with white
spots freckled with black; lower back black, freckled with white
but only slightly washed with ochraceous-brown; upper tail-coverts
ochraceous-brown with black centers; center of crown and hind neck
dark ochraceous or reddish brown, only faintly streaked with black
centers to the feathers; forehead and broad eyebrow as well as entire
side of face, throat, and breast clear slaty gray; a distinct band of
reddish brown along ear-coverts to sides of neck; abdomen, flanks,
and thighs blackish, mottled with white bars; under tail-coverts
deep black, barred with white; lesser and median wing-coverts uniform
ochraceous-brown like the back, greater series with blackish centers
and white frecklings; innermost secondaries like the back with
broad black centers, the inner webs paler ochraceous-brown thereby
forming a broad longitudinal band on each side of the back; alula,
primary-coverts, and quills sepia-brown; edges of alula and first
primary white; under wing-coverts and axillars dusky brown with a
few white spots and bars; tail-feathers blackish, edged with dark
ochraceous-brown. (Compiled from Sharpe, Catalogue of Birds). "Bill
green, dusky on the culmen and at the tips; legs and feet green, with
a yellowish tinge, sometimes brownish olive, sometimes pale green
or pale olive-green; claws pale brown; iris normally red, sometimes
briar-red, crimson, or carmine." (Hume.) Length, 178; culmen, 19;
wing, 89; tail, 42; tarsus, 28; middle toe and claw, 38.
"Adult female.--Similar to the male in color. Length, 178; culmen,
16; wing, 94; tail, 43; tarsus, 28.
"Young.--Is like the adult on the upper surface and is similarly marked
with black and white, but the general tone of the plumage is rather
more rufous; the head like the back; sides of face rufous-brown, as
also eyebrow; lores whitish; throat, breast, and abdomen dull white;
fore neck and chest rufescent, barred across with dusky; lower flanks,
vent, and under tail-coverts black, barred with white. 'Iris orange-red
or reddish brown.' (Hume.)" (Sharpe.)