BIBDS — SCOLOPACIDAK — PORZANA JAMAICENSIS, 



749 



Forzana, V i e i 1 1 o t . 

 PORZANA CAROLINA. 



Sora; Common Rnil; Ortolnii. 



Rttllus carolimis, Liss. Syst. Ntil. [, I7G6, 363 —Doughty 's Cab. N. H. 1, 1830, 206 ; pi. .xviii. — Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Ill, 1835, 251 : V, ru-2 ; pi. 233. 

 Gallinula Carolina, Lath. Iiid. II, 1790, 711. 

 Rallus (Crtx) earotinus, Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 230.— Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 209. 



Porzana cnrolina, .' — Cab. Jour. 1856, 428. 



Ortygonutra Carolina, Bon. List, 1638.— Aud. Syn. 1839, 213.— Ib. Birds Amcr. V, 1842, 145; pi. 306.— GossE, 



Birds Jam. 1847,371. 

 Kalltu itoliiltts and melanops, VieiLL. 



Figures.- Edwards' Birds, III, pi. 144.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VI, pi. 48, fig. 1.— Aud. B. of Am. pi. 233; oct. ed. V, 

 pi. 306. 



Sp. Cii. — Space around the base of tlio bill, extending downwards on tlie neck before and ovor tbe lop of tbe head, black. 

 Male, Upper parts greenish brown, with longitudinal bands of liltick, and many featiiers having narrow stripes of white on 

 their edges. Behind the eye, sides of the neck, and the breast, fine bluish ashy, willi circular spots and transverse bands of 

 white on the breast ; middle of the abdomen and under tail coverts white; sides and flanks with transverse bands of brownish 

 black and white. Bill greenish yellow ; legs dirk green. Female similar, but duller in colors. Young. Without black at the 

 base of the bill or on the neck ; throat dull white ; breast dull yellowish ashy ; upper parts tinged with dull yellow. 



Total length about 85 inches ; wing, 4^ ; tail, 2 inches. 



Ilab. — Entire temperate regions of North America. 



The most abundant and most universally known bird of its genus inhabiting the United 

 States, and everywhere known as " the rail." It is especially numerous along the creeks and 

 rivers on the Atlantic during the autumnal migration, when excursions for obtaining it are a 

 favorite arau.sement of our gunners and sportsmen. 



This bird appears to inhabit the entire temperate regions of North America. Specimens in 

 the present collection from California are precisely identical with others from the banks of the 

 Delaware river. 



List of specimens. 



Locality. 



When col- 

 lected. 



Carlisle, Pa Aug. 30, 1845 



do ; Aug. 16, ie44 



do I July 27,1844 



Cape May, N.J ' May— ,1842 



Torlu^as, Fla.. 



Red River, H.B.Terr.| 



Vanclon Camp 1856. 



Colorado river, Cal 



Whence obtained. 



Orig. 



No. 



5. F. Baird 



do 



do 



J. K.Townsend. 



6. WUrdemanii ., 



D. Ouiin 



Licul. Warren.. . 



M.ij. Emory 



Dr. liammond.. . 



Collected by— Lengtli. 



9.64 

 8.64 

 8.75 



Dr. Hayden . . 

 A. SchoU 



8.50 

 8.75 



Stretch 

 }f wing? 



14.25 

 13.25 

 13.75 



14.25 

 13.50 



Wing. 



4.32 

 4.32 

 4.32 



4.75 

 4.00 



Remartis. 



Eyes dark red, pupil bik. 



Creciscus, Cabanis. 

 PORZANA JAMAICENSIS. 



Little Black Rail. 



Ratlus jamaicenHs, G.meun, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 718.— Ano. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 359 ; pi. 349. 



Orlygomelra jamaicensis, Stephens.- Bon. List, 1838.— Aud. Syn. 1839, 214.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 157; 

 pi. 308. 



Porzana jamaicensis, ? 



Creciicusj'amoiceTWU, Cabanms, Jour. 1856, 428. (" Gonus distinguished from Porzana by sherter toes.") 



