1. RAI.LUS. 17 



p._67.3 (1884); Butcher, Auk, i. p. 178 (18^4: Lonjr Island); 

 1 ountf, t. c. p. P,m (oOO miles from Ireland) ; Ijre7v, Auk, ii. p. 18 

 (18So: Colorado); Beckh. t. c. p. 114 (Colorado); Loomis, t. c. 

 \>.m-2 (8. Carolina) ; Ai/ersh. t. c. p. 287 (Dakota) ; Tnnicr, Proc. 

 U.S. A<,1. Mus. vni. j). 248 (188.5: Labrador) ; A. O. U. C/teckJ. 

 A. Amcr. R p. 141 (I,-<8(;) ; G(m, Auk, iii. p. l].j (]88(J : Kansas) ; 

 Anthomj, t. c. p. 164 (Oregon) ; Scott, t. c. p. 385 (Arizona) ; Geipct, 

 J'.S^- S. XXIV. p. 105 (1886) ; Beck/,. Auk, iv. p. 124 (1887 : Colo- 

 ur c-* ;/''"^'^"'- '^^"'^- -'^— -'""''•■ /^'- p. 138 (1887); Tojcns. Proc. 

 U.S.Aat. Mus. X. pp. 197, 2:i4 (1887: N. California); Beck/i.t.c. 

 J), b^/ (Bexar CIo., Texas) ; Scoff, Auk, vi. p, 155 (18S9: Florida); 

 ton/, B. W. Ind. p. 254 (188'.); Cuba); Thomps. Proc. U.S. Xat. 

 3/«,s. xni. p. 404 (1890: Manitoba); Brewster, Auk, viii. p. 137 

 {Ib'.n : 8iuvauee River) ; F. If. Allot, t. c. p. 1(54 (Xova Scotia) : 

 Scott Auk IX p. 212 (1802 : Florida) ; B. II. Lawrence, t. c. p. 300 

 (1892: AVasbinjrton Terr.). 

 ^'ii-Lnnian Kail, Penn. Arct. ZooL ii. p. 400 (1785); Lath. Gen. Sun. 



111. pt. 1, p. 228(1785). ^ ^ 



Rallus aquatieus, var. /3, Lrdh. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 755 (1790) 

 Rallus liniicola, Vmll. X. Diet. d'HUt. Nat. xxviii. p. 558 (1810) 

 Aramus virf,nniauus, Grai/, Hand-l. B. iii. p. 50, no. 10410 (1871). 



Adult male in hreedincj-phimar/e. General colour above brown, all 

 the foathcrs broadly centred with black, producin- a strongly streaked 

 appearance ; lower back, rumj), and upper tail-coverts somewhat 

 more uniform brown ; scapulars like the back, but of a more reddish 

 tinge ; wing-covcrts uniform dull brick-red ; bastard-wing, primary- 

 coverts, and quills uniform dusky brown ; the inner secondaries 

 exactly like the scapulars : tail-feathers brown, witli lighter brown 

 edges : crown of head uniform blackish brown, with slight remains 

 of lighter brown margins to the feathers ; eyebrow, sides of face 

 and ear-coverts ashy grey, a little more blackish on the lores, which 

 arc surmounted by a streak of pale vinous ; eyelid and chin wliite • 

 throat and under surface of body pale vinous,' becoming lighter and 

 niore i,sal)e]Iine on the abdomen and thighs, deepenin-^on the sides 

 ot the body : the sides of the neck and sides of the^ breast brown 

 streaked with black like the back ; the Hanks and sides of vent 

 black, barred with white : the sides of the lower back uniform 

 brown ; under tail-coverts black, l)arred with white and tipped with 

 sandy margins like some of the lower flank-feathers ; lateral under 

 tail-coverts white, with longitudinal black centres; under win- 

 coverts and axillaries dusky brown, the former tipi)ed and the 

 atter barred as well as tipped with white: " bill dark brown, the 

 lower mandible and edges of upper one yellowisli brown ; feet 

 yellowish brown tinged witli olive, claws more dusky : iris bri-bt 

 red (J J. Audubon). Total length 8-3 inches, culmen 1-.5, win- 

 4-Io, tail 1-0, tarsus 1-35, middle toe and claw l-(5. "^ 



Adult femah in breedin;f-plumur,e. Similar to che male in colour 

 lotal length S inches, culmen 1-5, wing 3-0, tail 1-35, tarsus 1-1>.5, 

 middle toe and claw l*o5. 



Adult imvinter p7uma;/e. Similar to tlio summer plumasc: but 

 the brown colour of the upper surface is rather iishter, by reason of 

 the broader brown edges to the feathers. 

 VOL. xxiir. 



