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EEVISIOISr OF THE CLAPPER RAILS OBERHOLSER 347 



Geographic distribution. — Permanent resident in Florida; north on 

 the southeastern coast to Jupiter, on the western coast north to north- 

 western Florida (Pensacola); and south to extreme southern Florida 

 (Cape Sable). Casual northwest to southwestern Alabama (Perdido 

 Bay). 



Remarks. — The upper parts in certain specimens are very similar to 

 those of Rallus longirostris nayaritensis, but on the average they are 

 darker than in that form. The lower parts likewise are darker and 

 duller, excepting the flanks. Compared with Rallus longirostris 

 cubanus the present race has a somewhat shorter wing and shorter 

 tarsus and middle toe; darker upper parts; slightly darker flanks, 

 with slightly wider white bars; and in the gray-breasted phase the 

 whole lower surface gray, either without cinnamomeous or nearly so. 



In Rallus longirostris scottii there is much variation in the width of 

 the white bars on the flanks; and the jugulum is nearly always more or 

 less gray. There are four well-defined color phases; i. e. (1) (normal), 

 brown above with gray below; (2) brown above with cinnamon below; 

 (3) gray above with gray below; (4) and gray above with cinnamon 

 below. The gray phases are well marked by the much more grayish 

 (less ochraceous or brownish) edges of the feathers on the upper parts. 

 There is a pronounced gray phase of the lower parts in which much of 

 the cinnamon and the posterior whitish of abdomen are replaced by 

 dark gray, maldng the whole under surface appear much darker, 

 since what cinnamon there is left is much duller. As already men- 

 tioned this gray phase of the lower parts occurs in combination with 

 the gray and brown phases of the upper surface. 



A single specimen from the mouth of Perdido Bay in southwestern 

 Alabama, taken on January 27, 1912, is, on the lower surface, a typical 

 example of the present race, and is very dark above, although in this 

 it is not extreme, and apparently verges a Httle toward Rallus longi- 

 rostris saturatus. It is, however, doubtless a wanderer from east- 

 ward, for the breeding bird from Perdido Bay is practically typical 

 Rallus longirostris saturatus. Three specimens from the eastern coast 

 of Florida, a male taken 10 miles northwest of Palm Beach on May 

 28, 1920; one from Jupiter, March 6, 1920; and another from the 

 same locahty, March 20, 1921, are rather surprisingly absolutely in- 

 distinguishable from Rallus longirostris scottii, as comparison with an 

 extensive series shows. Since these birds were taken so late in the 

 season they evidently represent the breeding form of that part of the 

 Florida coast, and indicate that the present race occupies the southern 

 part of the peninsula on both coasts. 



The following specimens have been examined by the writer: 



Alabama: Mouth of Perdido Bay (January 27, 1912). 



Florida: Pensacola (July 28, 1926); Westbay (April 27 and 28, 

 1926); Horseshoe Point (May 25, 1926); Tarpon Springs (April 17, 



