320 BULLETIM 135, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



a dark, old-ivory color, heavily sprinkled almost capped at the larger end, with 

 rich reddish brown spots. The nest itself was noncommittal, a wellrounded and 

 rather deep bowl of coiled grasses, 3J^ inches across by 2 in depth inside, built up 

 to a height of three inches clear of the water. Notably, there was present a 

 leaning and overshadowing wisp of dead grass. I considered the exhibit long 

 and carefully, too sobered, for once, to render snap judgment. The boys became 

 impatient and pressed for an expression of opinion. Finally I said, " Well, boys, 

 to the best of my knowledge and belief, these are eggs of the yellow rail {Coturn- 

 icops noveboracensis) , the first breeding record for California, and the first set 

 ever taken west of the Rocky Mountains." 



Eggs. — I quote the following from Mr, Peabody's notes : 



As might be expected noveboracensis parallels jamaicensis in the fewness of the 

 eggs normally laid. Enough nests have been found to establish the norm beyond 

 dispute. My field notes involve 5 sets of 8, 3 of 9, and 3 of 10. No sets 

 numbering more than 10 have ever been found. The ground color of the eggs 

 of the yellow rail is usually of a rich, warm buff, as rich as the richest-colored 

 eggs of Asiatic fowl. This color fades, rapidly, with time, even when hidden from 

 the light. The dominant shape of these eggs is a decidedh'-pointed ovate. 

 Rounded-ovate specimens are not infrequent. In anj' case, there is a remarkable 

 uniformity in the eggs of any one set, not only in shape but in the markings. No 

 other eggs of North American birds could be confused with the eggs of this rail. 

 It is rarely, indeed, that an egg bears any marks, however small, below the upper- 

 height of the apex. Of extra-typical character, in this respect, was a nestless 

 incomplete set of six eggs that were marvelously like eggs oi jamaicensis, except 

 for one fairly-typical specimen. The dominant style of markings is the dense, 

 floriated, or stippled cap. This is borne, often, on the extreme apex. The ordi- 

 nary color type is a pale sepia or bright cinnamon, with a slight tendency toward 

 pale vinaceous. Thus, the eggs of the yellow rail are of very remarkable beauty. 

 Where markings occur on the body of the egg they are very small, often mere 

 specks. If wroathings occur they are usually near the apices; and they are 

 generally rather loose. In thi? type, also, spots, and specks predominate. It is 

 apt so very infrequently that one finds an egg capped at the small end. Two 

 such did I find in one set. Rarely do more than two or three eggs in a set bear 

 a,ny body markings whatever. A single very dark and unusually handsome egg 

 (Maltby), was marked as follows: On a very dark surface was found a loose and 

 streaky cap, somewhat " bedaubed. " The markings were of light and dark 

 ciimamon with little of lilaceous tint. The markings extended well down toward 

 the middle of the egg. There were a few streaky body spots. Another egg in 

 the same set bore three cinnamon spots, near the small end. A third egg in this 

 set was the most peculiar egg of the entire Benson County series, faintly and 

 scattsringiy specked, all over, with a marked tendency toward a capping with 

 the brighter markings. 



The measurements of 32 eggs average 28.3 by 20.7 millimeters; 

 the eggs showing the four extremes measure 29.7 by 21.3; 27.2 by 

 22.3; and 26.3 by 19.5 miUimeters. 



Plumages. — The downy 3^oung of the yellow rail seems to be en- 

 tirely unknown, but it is probably black hke the young of the other 

 small rails. The youngest juvenals I have been able to find are 

 October birds, which probably represent a first winter rather than a 

 Juvenal plumage. These differ from adults in being more pldnly 



