176 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan. 



THE BIRDS OF OTTAWA. 



By C. W. G. Eifrig. 



(Continued from page 163). 

 Order PALUDicoLiE Cranes, Rails, Etc. 



- RALLID^ RAILS. 



57. Ralluse elegans. King Rail. Rare accidental visitor. 

 Mr. G. R. White identified one that had been shot at Billing's 

 Bridge, May 7th, 1896. 



58. Rallus virginianus, Virginia Rail. A moderately com- 

 mon summer resident. Breeds in large and small cat -tail 

 marshes, like the small ones at Blueberry Point, near Aylmer, 

 On July 13th, 1909, Mr. C. N. Robertsoii and the writer found 

 the marsh along Cranberry Creek near Osgoode full of the little 

 young ones, which are pitch black. They arrive during the first 

 half of May, just when is hard to say, as they are retiring and 

 secretive. They leave about September 10th. 



59. Porzana Carolina, Sora. Of the same status and habits 

 as the preceding species, perhaps a little more numerous. On 

 May 8th, 1906, one was found dead in New Edinburgh, having 

 probably flown against a wire over night, and on October 29th, 

 1906, Mr. C. H. Young saw one along the Rideau. 



60. Coturnicops noveboracensis, Yellow Rail. Being small, 

 in addition to its skulking habits, and in more or less impassable 

 haunts, it may eventually be found commoner than 

 the now available dates warrant. There are only two, October 

 22nd. 1895, and October 20th, 1909, both records made by Mr. 

 G. R. White. Accordingly, we have to put it down now as a 

 very rare accidental visitor or breeder. 



61. Gallinula galeata, Florida Gallinule. It is interesting to 

 record this bird in our list, as it probably finds its northern 

 limit of distribution for this part of Canada in the Ottawa district, 

 where it is a rather common breeder in the marshes along the 

 Rideau River at Osgoode and Kars. A nest wnth seven eggs, 

 partly incubated, was taken there bv Messrs. W. E. and F. A. 

 Saunders, July 9th, 1890. Mr. G. R. White shot one still farther 

 north, namely at Hurdman's Bridge, Ottawa. 



62. Fulica americana, Coot. A moderately common summer 

 resident in its chosen haunts, the marshes along the Ottawa. 

 There, Mr. E. Bedard shot one May 11th, 1909, and Mr. E. White 

 saw one as late as October 19th, 1905, at Lochaber Bay, and in 

 the same marshes Mr. G. R. White found three nests. 



