(PLATE 28.)
_Rallus modestus_ Hutton, Ibis 1872, p. 247. (Mangare, Chatham
Islands.)
_Cabalus modestus_ Hutton, Trans. New Zeal. Inst. VI p. 108. (The genus
_Cabalus_ established.)
_Rallus dieffenbachii_ juv. Buller, B. New Zealand, Ed. I pp. 179, 180;
Ed. II p. 121 (1888).
_Cabalus dieffenbachii_ (part., juv.!) Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. XXIII
p. 47 (1894); corr. p. 331.
_Cabalus modestus_ Forbes, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. No. IV. p. XX (Dec.
1892); Salvadori, op. cit. V p. XXIII (Jan., 1893); Forbes, Ibis 1893,
pp. 532, 544, pl. XIV, fig. 4, egg; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. XXIII p.
331 (1893); Buller, Suppl. B.N.Z. I p. 45, pl. III (1905).
_Ocydromus pygmaeus_ Forbes, Nature XLVI, p. 252 (1892--nomen nudum!
cf. Ibis 1893, p. 544).
Captain Hutton (Ibis 1872, p. 247) described this interesting species as
follows: "Olivaceous brown, bases of the feathers plumbeous; feathers of
the breast slightly tipped with pale fulvous, those of the abdomen and
flanks with two narrow bars of the same colour; {128} throat dark grey,
each feather slightly tipped with brown. Quills soft brown, the first three
faintly barred with reddish fulvous, fourth and fifth the longest. Tail
very soft and short, brown. Irides light brown, bill and legs light brown.
Length 8.75 inches, wing 3.15, bill from gape 1.4, tarsus 1, middle toe and
claw 1.4.
_Young._ Uniform brownish black.