136 BIRDS. 



and on wing coverts; much brighter colored than the 

 last, and rather larger. U. S., fresh-water marshes. 



3. R. virginianus, L. VIRGINIA RAIL. Colors exactly 

 as in M. elegans; much smaller; L. 10; W. 4; T. 1; B. 

 1. U. S., frequent. 



2. PORZANA, Vieillot. LITTLE RAILS. 



1. P. Carolina, (L.) V. CAROLINA RAIL. SOKA. "OR- 

 TOLAN." Olive -brown, variegated; face and middle 

 line of throat black; breast slaty gray; back streaked; 

 belly barred; L. 9; W. 4; T. 2. U. S., not rare. 



2. P. noveboracensis, (Gm.) Cass. YELLOW RAIL. 

 Variegated above; L. 6; W. 3; T. 1. E. U. S., not 

 common. 



3. P. jamaicensis, (Gm.) Cass. BLACK RAIL. Blackish; 

 L. 5. S. Am., etc., rarely in U. S. 



3. GALLINULA, Brisson. GALLINULES. 



1. G. galeata, (Licht.) Bon. FLORIDA GALLINULE. 

 Brownish olive above, grayish black on head and below; 

 bill, frontal plate and ring around tibia red; L. 15; W. 

 7^; T. 3J; Ts. 2. S. States, straying northward. (Mani- 

 towoc, Wis. Jordan.) 



4. PORPHYRIO, Temminck. PURPLE GALLINULES. 



1. P. martinica, (L.) Temm. PURPLE GALLINULES. 

 Olive green; head and below purplish blue; crissum 

 white; bill mostly red; L. 12; W. 7; T. 3. S. States, 

 N. to Maine. 



5. FULICA, Linnaeus. COOTS. 



1. F. americana, Gm. COOT. MUD HEN. Dark slate 

 color or sooty; bill brownish; L. 14; W. 8; T. 2. U. S., 

 abundant in reedy swamps; swims well. 



