750 



U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



FiorREs —Edwards' Birds, VI, pi. 278.— Aud. B. of Am. pi. 349 ; oet. ed. V, pi. 308. 



Sp. Ch. — Smaller than the preceding, and is the smallest North American species of this family. ,1dult. Head and entire 

 under parts dark bluish ashy, or nearly slate color ; darker and nearly black on the top of the head ; abdomen and under tail 

 coverts with transverse bands of white. Neck behind and upper part of back dark reddish chestnut ; other upper parts brownish 

 black, with circular spots and irregular transverse stripes of white. Quills brownish black, with small spots of white ; tail 

 nearly the same colors. J'enj young. Enlirely bluish black. 



Total length (from tip of bill to end of tail) about 5 inches ; wing, 3^ ; tail, 1 j inches. 



Hab. — Middle and southern States on the Atlantic ocean. 



One of the most uncommon of North American birds, and highly prized by naturalists and 

 collectors. It is, however, apparently more abundant in the West Indies. 



Coturiiieops, Bonap. 

 PORZANA NOVEBORACENSIS. 



Yellow Rail. 



Fulica noveboracensis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 701. 



Gallinida noveboracensis, L.itham, Ind. Cm. II, 1790, 771. 



Ortygometra noveboracensis, Stephens, Shaw's Zool. XII, 1824. — Bon. List, 1838 — Aud. Syn. 1839, 213. — Ib. 



Birds Am. V, 1842, 152 ; pi. 307. 

 Kallus {Crex) noveboracensis, Bon. Specchio Comp. 1827, 212. — Ib. Am. Orn. IV, 1832, 136; pi. xxvii. — Nctt. 



Man. II, 1834,315. 

 Rallus noveboracensis, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 402.— Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 251 ; pi. 329. 



Porzana noveboracensis, ? 



Cotiirnicops noveboracensis, Bon. 1854. 



Perdix hudsonica, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 655. 



Rallus rufwoUis, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. 2d ed. XXVIII, 556.— Ib. Gal. II, 1825, 168 ; pi. 266. 



Figures.— ViEiLL. Gal. 11, pi. 266.— Aud. B. of Am. pi. 329 ; oct. ed. V, pi. 307. 



Sp. Ch. — Entire upper parts ochre yellow, with longitudinal wide stripes of brownish black and transverse narrow stripes of 

 white. Neck and breast reddish ochre yellow ; many feathers tipped with brown ; middle of abdomen wiiite ; Hanks and 

 ventral region with wide transverse bands of dark reddish brown and narrow bands of white ; under tail coverts rufous, with 

 small spots of white ; under wing coverts white. Total length (from tip of bill to end of tail) about 6 inches ; wing, 3j ; 

 tail, IJ inches. 



Hab. — Eastern North America. 



A very handsome little bird, reminding one of a young chicken in its general appearance. 

 It is of rather unusual occurrence on the shores of fresh and salt waters in the eastern States of 

 the republic. 



List of specimens. 



