BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—PORZANA JAMAICENSIS, 749 
Porzana, Vieillot. 
PORZANA CAROLINA. 
Sora; Common Rail; Ortolan. 
Rallus carolinus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 363 —Doucury’s Cab. N. H. 1, 1830, 206; pl. xviiii—Aup. Orn. Biog. 
TI 835;. 20s, Vijo02 5) ple eda. 
Gallinula carolina, Lat. Ind. II, 1790, 711. 
Rallus (Crex) carolinus, Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 230.--Nurr. Man. IT, 1834, 209. 
?—Cas. Jour. 1856, 428. 
Ortygometra carolina, Bon. List, 1838.—Aup. Syn. 1839, 213.—Is. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 145; pl. 306.—Gossr, 
Birds Jam. 1847, 371. 
Rallus stolidus and melanops, V1EILL. 
Porzana carolina, 
Ficures.—Epwarps’ Birds, III, pl. 144.—Witson, Am. Orn. VI, pl. 48, fig. 1.—Avup. B. of Am. pl. 233; oct. ed. V, 
pl. 306. 
Sp. Cu.—Space around the base of the bill, extending downwards on the neck before and over the top of the head, black. 
Male. Upper parts greenish brown, with longitudinal bands of black, and many feathers having narrow stripes of white on 
theiredges. Behind the eye, sides of the neck, and the breast, fine bluish ashy, with circular spots and transverse bands of 
white on the breast ; middle of the abdomen and under tail coverts white; sides and flanks with transverse bands of brownish 
black and white. Bill greenish yellow ; legs dark green. Female similar, but duller in colors. Young. Without black at the 
base of the bill or on the neck ; throat dull white ; breast dull yellowish ashy ; upper parts tinged with dull yellow. 
Total length about 85 inches ; wing, 4}; tail, 2 inches. 
Hab.—Entire temperate regions of North America. 
The most abundant and most universally known bird of its genus inhabiting the United 
States, and everywhere known as ‘‘ the rail.’’ It is especially numerous along the creeks and 
rivers on the Atlantic during the autumnal migration, when excursions for obtaining it are a 
favorite amusement of our gunners and sportsmen. 
This bird appears to inhabit the entire temperate regions of North America. Specimens in 
the present collection from California are precisely identical with others from the banks of the 
Delaware river. 
List of specimens. 
Catal.) Sex. Locality. When col- Whence obtained. | Orig.| Collected by— Length.| Stretch | Wing. Remarks. 
No. lected. No. | of wings 
| |- | — 
2421 | Carlisle, Pa.....s.000. Aug. 30,1845 | S. FP. Baird... seeeeeleveeee 14.25 
1697 | lhaewes do .| Aug. 16,1844 ]...... dOsacceaees 13.95 
NGS a veh WGogood do... | July 27,1844 |ieccee. CO... 2 arc cccceelececes 13.75 
10461 Cape May,N.J. | May —, 1842 | J. K. Townsend. ..sssjsccces| -ceccccccccecccelevcecccs|ssse cess 
6533 | Tortugas, Fla....eess|eses Aoopopouce G.. Wiirdemann 0 crecie|cerses|coccccicesncs svcs|ooescene|cose cons 
6950 |......| Red River, H. B. Terr.|......0000..- DA Giimritceaiasiesels'es e's |ionicteisis|[qsemein(einictelsiajasieo’sl se steveiaiaa|| (es sisies of 
4875 Yancton Camp ...... TBDG iste sales Ticut. Warren. ...ee.|seees: | Dr. Hayden.... 8.50 | 14.25 
4555 |......) Colorado river, Cal...) .......+++....] Maj. Emory.. sess sees J), 4) AsSchott...cccn|ccesecce| oss cceee 
4901 |...00- Sang Diego, Cals ceratle| sectsiiciasse eka Dr. Hammond.. .ovsesleceess|sovces sevecccces 8.75 | 13,50 
Creciscus, Cabanis. 
PORZANA JAMAICENSIS. 
Little Black Rail. 
Rallus jamaicensis, Gmexin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 718.—Aup. Orn, Biog. IV, 1838, 359 ; pl. 349. 
Ortygometra jamaicensis, SteeHens.-—Bon. List, 1838—Aup. Syn. 1839, 214.—Is. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 157; 
: pl. 308. 
? 
Porzana jamaicensis, 
Creciscus jamaicensis, Canants, Jour, 1856, 428. (‘* Genus distinguished from Porzana by shorter toes.’’) 
