RALLID.E— THE RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS. 89 



All these variations appear, however, to be purely individual 

 (perhaps partially seasonal), or at least entirely independent 

 of locality. 



This essentially southern species is comparatively a rare bird 

 in Illinois, though it may be more common than the records 

 show. According to Mr. Nelson, a male specimen was taken in 

 May, 1886, by Mr. C. N. Holden, Jr., near Chicago, and he was 

 informed by Dr. Hoy that a specimen had been captured at 

 Racine. Its general habits are much like those of the Florida 

 Gallinule (Gallinula galeata). 



Subfamily RALLINiE 

 Genus RALLXJS Linn.eus. 



Rallus Linn. S. N. ed. 10, 1758. 153; ed 12. 1766.261. Type. //. aquaticus Linn. 

 Char. Bill longer than the head, rather slender, compressed; upper mandible slightly 

 curved; nostrils in a long groove, and with a large membrane; wings short ; tertiary quills 

 long, frequently longer than the primaries; tail very short; lees moderate; tarsus shorter 

 than the middle toe, and covered on all sides with transverse scales; toes l'>ng and rather 

 slender; inner toe rather shorter than the outer; hind toe short and weak. 



This genus contains numerous species, inhabiting all the tem- 

 perate countries of the world. They are very similar in their 

 habits, and frequently in appearance. Their long toes enable 

 them to run over and climb amongst aquatic plants with great 

 facility. 



Synopsis of tht North American Species. 



Common Characters. Above olive or ashy, with more or less distinct broad longitudi- 

 nal strip.- of darker; beneath concolored anteriorly, variegated wit h bar- on the Hanks and 

 crissum. Breast more or less reddish; flanks and crissum with brown and white transverse 

 bars; a supraloral light stripe. Wing-coverts usually more rufesoenl than back. 



A. Size large (wing more than Ave inches). 



a. Axillars and Hanks dusky, with wide white bars (bars aboul .15 of an Inch wide on 



Hanks). 

 l. R. elegans. Back and scapulars ochraoeous-olive or yellowish drab, sharply and 



conspicuously striped with black; breasl deep cinnamon. Wing, •"■.'."' ,; > n ; cul- 



men, 2.10-2.50; least depth of bill. .22-.S5; tarsus, 1.90 2.40; middle toe, 1.70 J. in. ffdb. 



Fresh-water marshes of eastern North America. 

 i>. Axillars and flanks brownish eray, with narrow white bars (bars about .10 of aninoh 



wide on Hanks). 

 -'. R. crepitans. Back and Boapulars brownish gray or ashy, obBQletely striped 

 with brown (in Gulf coast specimens distinctly 9triped with dusky); breast pale 



buff (Id Gulf coast i [mens dull oinnamon). Wing. 5.20-6.00; culmen, 2J 



least depth of bill, .22-.S6; tarsus, 1.86-2.10; middle toe, 1.76-2.00. Uab. Bait- 

 marshes of ea 



B. Size -mall (wing less than 1.50 inches). 



:t. R. virginianus. similar to /.'. - egans, but rather more deeply colored. ffo©. 

 i and Middle Am 

 —12 



