1. RALLUS. l.j 



obtained by the above-named gentleman between November and 

 March there is rcall}- very little variation in colour ; but in the 

 amount of white barring and in the breadth of white bars on the 

 flanks there is very considerable difference. The broader bars on 

 the flanks are accompanied by whiter under tail-coverts, and I take 

 it that these are the older birds. It appears to me to be quite clear 

 that the i)attern of the under tail-coverts gradually changes, and 

 that tlie bars break up into streaks and ultimately into suliter- 

 minid. spots, or they may disappear entirely. It is also apparently 

 a sign of winter plumage that the under surface should be obscured 

 by greyish or dusky edges to the feathers. These would seem to 

 wear off, leaving the cinnamon colour of the throat and breast 

 apparent. No regular season appears to exist for the full develop- 

 ment of the cinnamon breast, for both in December and January 

 bright-breasted specimens occur, while most of the dingily-coloured 

 birds were procured in ^March. 



^fr. Kidgway's characters for the separation of the Clapper Eails 

 do not satisfy me any more than do those of Mr. Sennett. Neither 

 of these authors appears to admit that the amount of grey on the 

 imder surface which conceals the cinnamon colour of the breast is 

 due to age, nor the breadth of the striping of the upper surface is 

 in proportion due to the wearing-away of the margins of the feathers, 

 leaving only the mesial streak or black central part of the feather. 



llah. From Louisiana to Florida. 



a,b. S 2 ad. sk. Lake Eorgue, Louisiana, Feb., Salvin-Godman Coll. 



April (//. W. Hemhaiv). (Tvpes of species.) 



c-ff. (S ad. ; h. J Tarpon Springs. Florida, Jan. Salviia-Godmau CoU. 



ad.sk. (W. E.B.Scott]. 



i-r. S ad. ; .«, t, Tarpon Springs, Feb. ( If. K Salvin-Godman Coll. 



«. $ ad. sk. n. S.). 



V, w. c? ad. sk. Tarjion Springs, March ( Jf. Salvin-Godman Coll. 



K D. S.). 

 .T, y, z. <5 ad. ; a, Tarpon Springs, May ( W. E. Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 b'. 2 ad. ; c', D. S.). 

 d'. Pull. sk. 

 e'. c? pull. sk. Tarpon Springs, June ( W. E. Salvin-Godman Coll. 



IJ. S.). 

 f'-m'. cJ ad. et Tarpon Springs, Aug. ( IT. 1^. Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 imm. ; n', o',p'. I). S.). 

 5 inim. sk. 

 q'. d" ad. sk. Tarpon Springs, Oct. ( W. E. Salvin-Godman Coll. 



D. S.). 

 r'. (S ad. sk. Tarpon Springs, Nov. ( W. E. Salvin-Godman Coll. 



I). S.). 

 s '!/'. 6 ad. ; =', Tarpon Springs, Dec. ( W. E. Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 a". 2 ad. sk. D. S.). 



Subsp. e. Ralhis obsoletus. 



