rail

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


common English birdname. There aremany varieties in New Zealand and Australia, especially in theformer colony, and the authorities differ as to whether someshould be classed as distinct species. Some are common toAustralasia, others endemic in New Zealand or Australia; theirdistribution in this respect is marked below in parentheses.Several species receive more than one vernacular name, as thefollowing list shows – – Banded Rail (N.Z. and A.) – – Rallus philippensis, Linn.

♣ Chestnut-bellied R. (A.) – – Eulabeornis castaneiventris, Gould.

♣ Dieffenbach's R. (see quotation below) – – Rallus dieffenbachii, Gray.

♣ Hutton's R. (N.Z.) – – Cabalus modestus, Hutton.

♣ Land R. (N.Z. and A.) – – Rallus philippensis, Linn.

♣ Marsh R. (Australasia) – – Ortygometra tabuensis, Finsch. and Hard.

♣ Pectoral R. (N.Z. and A.) – – Rallus philippensis, Linn.

♣ Red-necked R. (A.) – – Rallina tricolor, Gray.

♣ Slate-breasted R. (A.) – – Hypotaenidia brachipus, Swains.

♣ Swainson's R. (N.Z. and A.) – – Rallina brachipus, Swains.

♣ Swamp R. (Australasia) – – Ortygometra tabuensis, Finsch. and Hard.

♣ Tabuan R. (Australasia) – – O. tabuensis, Finsch. and Hard.

♣ Weka R. (N.Z. See Weka.) – – See also Takahe and Notornis.

1888. W.L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' p. 121:

«Dieffenbach's Rail. . . . This beautiful Rail was broughtfrom the Chatham Islands by Dr. Dieffenbach in 1842, and namedby Mr. Gray in compliment to this enterprising naturalist.The adult specimen in the British Museum, from which mydescription was taken, is unique, and seems likely to remainso.»

1893. Prof Parker, `Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,'p. 116:

«Hutton's rail, the third of the endemic rails . . . isconfined to the Chatham Islands.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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