332 BUIXETIN 135, UNITED STATES NATIONAI^ MUSEUM 



The black rail also has been reported as occurring in summer from 

 Wisconsin (Lake Koshkonong); and Ohio (Grand Reservoir). A 

 specimen believed to be tliis species was reported as seen near Tucson, 

 Arizona, on April 23, 1881 (Brewster). 



Winter range. — The black rail is known to winter in Jamaica and 

 Guatemala (Duenas); and it appears to occur rarely at this season 

 north to Louisiana (New Orleans) and Florida (the Tortugas Islands, 

 Key West, St. Marks, and Daytona). It has been reported in win- 

 ter from Tybee Island, Georgia (Hoxie),but this case lacks subse- 

 quent confirmation. 



Spring migration. — Early dates of arrival are: District of Colum- 

 bia, Woodridge, May 14, 1923, and Washington, May 29, 1891; Mas- 

 sachusetts, Boston, May 5, 1913, and Milton, May 16, 1904; Illinois, 

 Canton, April 15, 1895, and Rautoul, May 11, 1914; Ohio, Medina, 

 April 14, 1921, and near Carthage, May 17, 1890; Texas, Houston, 

 April 21; and Kansas, Neosho Falls, March 18, 1886. 



Fall migration. — Late dates of fall departure are: Kansas, Law- 

 rence, September 26, 1885; Illinois, Chicago, October 15, 1903, and 

 Canton, October 27, 1894; Iowa, Iowa City, October 11, 1885; Maine, 

 Scarboro, October 4, 1881; New Jersey, near Camden, September 22, 

 1887; Maryland, Piscataway, September 25, 1877, and Mount Cal- 

 vert, October 19, 1906; District of Columbia, near Washington, 

 September 25, 1877; and South Carolina, Mount Pleasant, November 

 9, 190.6. 



The typical form of this rail (Creciscus jamaicensis jamaicensis) is 

 now said to occupy Jamaica, Cuba, and Porto Rico; and the bird 

 found in the eastern United States has recently been named Creciscus 

 jamaicensis stoddardi Coale, as a distinct subspecies. 



Egg dates. — New Jersey: 26 records, May 30 to August 12; 13 

 records, June 12 to 23. 



CRECISCUS COTURNICULUS (Ridjjway) 

 FARALLON RAIL 



HABITS 



The above name was given to this rail because the type, an imma- 

 ture bird, happened to be taken on the Farallon Islands, where, of 

 course, it was only a straggler, as there is no suitable habitat for rails 

 on these rocky islands. The type specimen was taken on October IS, 

 1859, and remained for many years unique. Mr. Ridgway (1890), 

 who described the bird as a subspecies in 1874, reviews the matter 

 and expresses some doubt as to its status, as follows: 



Whatever doubt there may be, however, of the present occurrence of the bird 

 on the Farallons, or even of the type specimen having really been obtained there, 

 there can not, I think, be any question as to its distinctness from P. jamaicensis. 



