e proportion of bullocks, which
declined with fiendish obstinacy to fatten. They were what are
known by the stockriders as `ragers,' or `pig-meaters'"
[q.v.].

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. xvi. p. 196:

"Well, say a hundred off for ragers.'"

<hw>Rail</hw>, <i>n</i>. common English birdname. There are
many varieties in New Zealand and Australia, especially in the
former colony, and the authorities differ as to whether some
should be classed as distinct species. Some are common to
Australasia, others endemic in New Zealand or Australia; their
distribution in this respect is marked below in parentheses.
Several species receive more than one vernacular name, as the
following list shows--

Banded Rail (N.Z. and A.)--
<i>Rallus philippensis</i>, Linn.

Chestnut-bellied R. (A.)--
<i>Eulabeornis castaneiventris</i>, Gould.

Dieffenbach's R. (see quotation below)--
<i>Rallus dieffenbachii</i>, Gray.

Hutton's R. (N.Z.)--
<i>Cabalus modestus</i>, Hutton.

Land R. (N.Z. and A.)--
<i>Rallus philippensis</i>, Linn.

Marsh R. (Australasia)--
<i>Ortygometra tabuensis</i>, Finsch. and Hard.

Pectoral R. (N.Z. and A.)--
<i>Rallus philippensis</i>, Linn.

Red-necked R. (A.)--
<i>Rallina tricolor</i>, Gray.

Slate-breasted R. (A.)--
<i>Hypotaenidia brachipus</i>, Swains.

Swainson's R. (N.Z. and A.)--
<i>Rallina brachipus</i>, Swains.

Swamp R. (Australasia)--
<i>Ortygometra tabuensis</i>, Finsch. and Hard.

Tabuan R. (Australasia)--
<i>O. tabuensis</i>, Finsch. and Hard.

Weka R. (N.Z. See <i>Weka</i>.)--

See also <i>Takahe</i> and <i>Notornis</i>.

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

"Dieffenbach's Rail. . . . This beautiful Rail was brought
from the Chatham Islands by Dr. Dieffenbach in 1842, and named
by Mr. Gray in compliment to this enterprising naturalist.
The adult specimen in the British Museum, from which my
description was taken, is unique, and seems likely to remain
so."

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

"Hutton's rail, the third of the endemic rails . . . is
confined to the Chatham Islands."

<hw>Rain-bird</hw>, <i>n</i>. The name is popularly given in
many parts of the world to various birds. The <i>Rain-bird</i>
of Queensland and the interior is the Great Cuckoo or
Channel-bill (<i>Scythrops novae-hollandiae</i>, Lath., q.v.).

1860. G. Bennett, `Gatherings of a Naturalist,' p. 283:

"We d