THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 109 



Fonneiiy a very rare straggler. 



Wilson says (1812) : "A few sometimes make their appearance in 

 the marshes of Cape May in December, particularly on and near Egg 

 Island [in Delaware Bay], where they are known by the name of 

 'Storks.' Some linger in these marshes all winter, setting out north 

 about the time the ice breaks up." TurnbuU (1869) writes: "Now 

 very rare; while at Beesley's Point in 1857 I saw three off the inlet; 

 they were very wary, and could not be approached; in Wilson's time 

 it bred at Cape May." Peter Kalm saw Cranes migrating north in 

 the spring while at Swedesboro in 1748-9, but whether Sand Hill 

 Cranes, as stated by TurnbuU (p. 49), or this species, I cannot say. 



Family RALLID-ffi. 



The Rails and Coots. 



The Rails are birds of the more open marshes, where they run 

 about rapidly, easily keeping concealed in the grass and seldom taking 

 wing. They can swim if forced to do so, and fly in a rather labored 

 fashion. The Coots are much more aquatic, and the Gallinules inter- 

 mediate between the two. The downy young are black or dark slaty 

 gray. 



a. Bill, 2.40-2.50. 



b. Under parts cinnamon rufous, flanks barred black and white. 



King Rail, p. 110 

 feft. Under parts grayish-buff, flanks barred gray and white. 



Clapper Rail. p. 110 

 aa. Bill, 1.50 or less. 



&. Plumage mainly bright blue ; wing, 7. Purple Gallinule, p. 115 



bb. Plumage dark slaty-gray ; wing, 6.50-8.50. 



c. Toes broadly lobed. Coot, p. 116 



cc. Toes not broadly lobed. Florida Gallinule, p. 115 



bbb. Plumage streaked or mottled, different above and below, 

 c. No narrow silvery-white lines or spots above. 



d. Bill, 1.50. Virginia Rail. p. Ill 



dd. Bill, .90. Corn Crake, p. 114 



cc. Fine, narrow silvery-white lines or spots above. 



d. White lines longitudinal ; wing, 4.25. Sora. p. 112 



dd. White lines transverse, general color buff : wing, 3.25. 



Yellow Rail, p. 113 

 ddd. White dots on back, general color black and slate ; wing, 2.75. 



Black Rail, p. 113 



