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EEVISIOX OF THE CLAPPER RAILS OBERHOLSER 339 



lighter, the edgings more grayish (less rufescent) oHve; lower surface 

 anteriorly lighter, the chin more extensively white; sides and flanks 

 averaging lighter, their white bars broader. 



Description of soft parts. — Adult: ''Iris dark brown; bill brownish 

 orange at base, dusky along ridge and at tip ; legs and feet dull orange 

 brown, darkest at joints" (Grinnell, Bryant, and Storer). Nestling: 

 "Bill dusky, with yeilov/ish white band near end and yellow spot about 

 nostril" (Grinnell, Bryant, and Storer). 



Measurements. — xidult male *^: Wing, 154.5-167 (average, 161.9) 

 mm; tail, 62.5-69 (66.7); exposed culmen, 56-61 (58.9); tarsus, 

 53-60.5 (56.9); middle toe wdthout claw, 50-54 (51.2). Adult fe- 

 male'*: Wing, 138-155.5 (147.3); tail, 57-67 (62.6); exposed culmen, 

 51.5-58 (54.2); tarsus, 47-51 (49.5); middle toe without claw, 41-48 

 (44.9) 



Type locality. — Newport Landing, Los Angeles County, Calif. 



Geographic distribution. — Permanent resident on the coast of south- 

 western California, north to Santa Barbara, and south to northwestern 

 Lower California (San Quintin Bay). 



Remarks. — This form of the clapper rail resembles in a general way 

 Ralhs longirostris tenuirostris , but it differs in having a longer wing, 

 shorter bill, lighter and brighter upper parts that are usually more 

 rufescent olive, darker anterior lower parts, somewhat more deeply 

 colored flanks and sides, and broader, more distinct, and more purely 

 white bars on the fl.anks. 



The jugulum in this race usually has no admixture or suffusion of 

 gray, but occasionally has a slight wash of this color. The upper parts 

 present tvro chief color phases, a brown, or rufescent olive, and a gray, 

 both involving chiefly the edgings of the feathers. The lower parts, 

 so far as laiown, have no gray-breasted phase. 



Specimens have been examined from the following localities: 



California: Sunset Beach, Orange County (December 18, 1918, 

 January 23, 24, and 31, 1917, February 27, 1917, February 7, 1918, 

 February 23, 1921); Santa Barbara (July 1, 1875); Wilmington, Los 

 Angeles County (November 16, 1879); San Diego County (IVIay 9, 

 1905 [nestling], October 20, 1906); False Bay (April 10, 1908); Na- 

 tional City (December 4, 1886, October 19, 1917); Newport Landing 

 (February 23, 1886) ; Pacific Beach, San Diego County (September 13, 

 1904, November 25 and 29, 1905) ; Bolsa Chica Club, Orange County 

 (January 31, 1900); San Diego (May 9, 1905). 



Lower California: San Quintin Bay (December 8, 1930); mouth 

 of Tia Juana River (July 17, 1894). 



" Ten specimens, from California and northern Lower California. 

 " Twelve specimens, from California and Lower California. 



