The Tahiti rail (Gallirallus pacificus) is an extinct bird species from Tahiti. The rail was first recorded during James Cook's second voyage in 1772–1775, during which it was painted by Georg Forster and described by his father Johann. It may have also existed on nearby Mehetia. It appears to have been closely related to the buff-banded rail, and has been confused with that bird's Tongan subspecies. The Tahiti rail was 9 in (23 cm) long, with white on its underparts, throat, and "eyebrows". Its upper parts were black with white dots and bands, the hind neck was rust-coloured, the breast was grey, and it had a black band across its throat. The bill and iris were red, and the legs were pink. It was supposedly flightless, and nested on the ground. It frequented open areas, marshes, and coconut plantations, eating mainly insects and some coconut meat. Its extinction, after 1844 on Tahiti, and perhaps in the 1930s on Mehetia, was probably due to predation by humans and introduced cats and rats.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahiti_rail

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1899:

An expedition led by Halford Mackinder made the first ascent of Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kenya

1959:

Soviet spacecraft Luna 2 impacted the Moon, becoming the first spacecraft to reach another celestial body. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_2

1985:

Super Mario Bros., one of the best-selling and most influential video games of all time, was first released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Bros.

2008:

Five bomb blasts took place within a span of a few minutes in Delhi, India, in a terrorist attack in a series committed by the Indian Mujahideen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_September_2008_Delhi_bombings

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

cardsharp: (card games) A professional cheater at card games. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cardsharp

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I see the bad moon arising I see trouble on the way I see earthquakes and lightnin' I see bad times today. Don't go around tonight Well, it's bound to take your life There's a bad moon on the rise.   --John Fogerty https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Fogerty