360 ALECTORIDES. 



stripes (olivaceous, not dusky) very luint, or even sometimes quite obsolete ; the breast nearly or 

 (piite white centrally, with a very decided ash-gray wash across the jugulum. Specimens from 

 Louisiana and Western Florida are (^uite difi'erent, being very darkly colored, the stripes above 

 broad and distinct, dusky black on an ash-gray ground ; the breast decided cinnamon, lighter cen- 

 trally. West Indian skins (of which there is a considerable number before us) are more like those 

 first described above, l)ut have the upper parts distinctly striped with deep olivaceous or raw- 

 uuiliiT liniwn, the l)ivast being colored about the same as in the Atlantic States specimens. It is 

 exceedingly probable that the geographic import of these variations will be. confirmed by more 

 extensive series, thus establisliing, along with the true longirostris (^ " crassirostris" Lawr.), four 

 well-marked "climatic " races, which may be defined as follows : — 



a. longirostris. Above, olive-gray, distinctly striped with vandyke-brown ; breast deep l)uff 

 or pale cinnamon. C'ulmen, 1.90-2.10; least depth of bill, .35-40; wing, 5.20-5.50; tarsus, 

 1.75-1.85 ; middle toe, 1.75. Hah. Northern coast of South America (Cayenne to Bahia), 



/?. longirostTis. 



h. crepitans. Above, ash-gray, the stripes usually obsolete ; if distinct, light olivaceous, and 

 not well defined ; breast buff, paler (usually whitish) centrally, and shaded with gray across 

 the jugulum. Tulmen, 2.10-2.50; least depth of bill, .22-28 ; tarsus, 1.85-2.10; middle toe, 

 1.70-2.00. IJiih. Salt-water marshes, Atlantic coast United States. 



c. caribaeus. Colors of longirostris. Culmeii, 2.12-2.50 ; least depth of bill, .25-.30 ; tarsus, 

 1.95-2.10 ; middle toe, 1.80-1.95. Hah. West Indies. 



d. saturatus. Above, olive-gray or ashy broadly striped with brownish black ; breast dull 

 cinnamon. Culmen, 2.10-2.45 ; least depth of bill, .22-28 ; tarsus, 1.95-2.00 ; middle toe, 1.75- 

 1.80. Hah. Louisiana. 



The Clapper Eail of the Sontli Atlantic and Gulf Region has a somewhat restricted 

 range within the United States. It is confined to the sea-board, and is fonnd only as 

 far to the north as Long Island Sound, a iew, according to Dr. Wood, breeding in 

 Southern Connecticut, but rarely straggling farther north. Along the Atlantic and 

 the Gulf coasts it is seen as far as the Mississippi, and probably beyond to Mexico ; 

 but it is not given by Mr. Dresser as a bird of Texas, and I am not aware of any 

 mention of it as having been noticed in Mexico or in Central America. It has not, 

 so far as I am aware, been seen on the Pacific coast, nor anywhere in tlie interior, 

 excepting that it is mentioned by Mr. Mcllwraith as having been found in the vicinity 

 of Hamilton, Ontario ; but he probably mistook the Ralliis eleguns for it. It occurs in 

 most of the West India Islands, breeding abundantly in Cuba, Jamaica, Santo Domingo, 

 and other islands, but it is not mentioned as having been noticed in Bermuda. 



Professor Newton states that it is found in St. Croix, where it is very local, 

 frequenting a large lagoon in the south of the island, and being there quite numerous 

 and breeding. The birds were very noisy, especially in the evening ; and when a 

 gun was fired near their haunts, their outcries could be heard on every side. They 

 were very shy, and not easily shot, as, on being a])])roached, they were seen running 

 across the shallow water, or hopping from root to root of the mangroves, looking like 



