RALLUS.
Bill longer than head; tarsus shorter than middle toe with claw; nares long, lying in a groove.
8' 9 Above olive brown with broad black central streaks ; beneath slate grey, flanks darker grey barred white, ventral region reddish buff. Bill orange red, ridge above and tip black brown. Legs and feet fleshy brown. Wing a 120-126, 9 Tarsus 41-45. Bill a 38-40, 9 (rare), Britain, throughout Europe from Mediterranean north to Arctic Circle, N. Africa (Egypt (rare)
to Morocco) ; possibly \V. Siberia. Largely migratory ; not uncommon in N.\V. Europe in winter, but winters chiefly Mediterranean Basin ; also occurs at that season in S.W. Asia.
The distribution of this race and that of "It. aquaticus korejewi" Sarudny (a paler form) in extreme \V. Siberia is not yet ascertained.