202 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



Some individuals show more or less decided traces of white bars on 

 the upper wing-coverts also. Immature birds differ from adults in 

 the color of the under parts, which are much darker, and suffused with 

 grayish buffy. 



The discovery of the Clapper Rail in the Isle of Pines, and that the 

 birds of this species occurring there represent a new and very distinct 

 form, is of more than passing interest. The new race, while closely 

 resembling R. I. waynei of the South Atlantic coast in the color of the 

 upper surface, is much whiter below than any of the other known 

 forms of this group. That a sedentary species such as the Clapper 

 Rail, which throughout its West Indian range has a habitat and 

 environment practically the same — the mangrove swamps — should 

 vary to such an extent is surprising enough, but that the Isle of Pines 

 form should differ so widely from that of the neighboring island of Cuba, 

 resembling instead certain other more remote forms, is a problem 

 requiring consideration, suggesting that in the case of the Clapper 

 Rail segregation has been a factor in the evolution of the species. 



Since I wrote my review of Bahaman birds I have had occasion to 

 alter my views as to the status of the various forms of this group. 

 I now believe they should all stand as subspecies of the South American 

 Rallus longirostris. 



The present form is based upon a series of five adult and three 

 immature birds, collected by Mr. Link at Los Indios and the Majagua 

 River. It was confined to the mangroves, and seemed to be fairly 

 common there, judging from the number which were daily heard. It 

 proved to be very difficult to secure, however, preferring to seek safety 

 when disturbed more by dodging through the thick growth rather than 

 by flight. Young in the down were seen on several occasions along 

 the sea-beach near the mouth of the Majagua River, upon being alarmed 

 disappearing into the mangroves, where they were safe from pursuit. 

 While not actually observed at any other locality than the two above 

 mentioned, the species doubtless occurs at other points along the coast, 

 in salt-water lagoons, wherever the mangroves grow, and it was 

 probably this species which was recorded by Mr. Read from Bibijagua 

 under the name " Virginia Rail." 



