Additional specimens of two rare rails and comments on the genus Tricholimnas of New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island

Abstract

Four skins of Nesoclopeus poeciloptera (Hartlaub) from Fiji and two previously unknown skins of Tricholimnas lafresnayanus (Verreaux & de Murs) from New Caledonia held in collections in Sydney, Australia, are listed.

We have examined a total of twelve T. lafresnayanus in world museums. Two others have been traced and a third possibly exists. Two more have been destroyed. Measurements from this rail and its plumage are compared with those from the Woodhen T. sylvestris (Sclater) of Lord Howe Island and their similarities emphasized.