142 NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



where in Eastern North America or wherever found. It winters in the 

 Southern States. Dr. Wheaton has a specimen taken by Dr. Howard E. 

 Jones in the vicinity of Circleville, Ohio, who has taken it frequently there, 

 and considers it nearly as common as other species, and believes it breeds 

 there, which is probably the case throughout the State. This Rail has 

 the same general traits of the others, frequenting marshy places, skulking 

 and hiding in the wet grass and aquatic plants, to elude observation. 



Hab. Eastern North America from Nova Scotia and Hudson's Bay west to Utah and Nevada. No 

 extralimital record, except Cuba and the Bermudas. 



576. Little Black Rail — porzana jamaicensis. Dr. Elliott Coues, in 

 his excellent work, "Key to North American Birds,"* says that this bird 

 is "not often found in the United States, being one of the rarest of our 

 birds." It may be readily known by its small size and dark colors, the 

 upper parts blackish, finely speckled and barred with white, back and 

 neck dark chestnut; head and under parts dark slate-color, paler or 

 whitening on the throat; the lower belly, flanks and under wing and tail- 

 coverts barred with white; length of bird about 5.50. Dr. Coues says: 

 "Eggs from New Jersey are altogether different from those of the Sora, 

 or Yellow Crake, being creamy-white, sprinkled all over with fine dots of 

 rich, bright reddish-brown, and with a few spots of some little size at the 

 great end; most like the more finely speckled examples of the eggs of 

 the large Ralli; dimensions 1.05 to .80." 



Hab. Temperate North America, north to Massachusetts, Northern Illinois and Oregon; south to West 

 Indies and in Western South America to Chili. 



578. Purple Gallinule — ionornis martinica. Creamy, finely and 

 rather sparsely dotted with chestnut-brown and umber, rather elliptical ; 

 six to ten in number; size from 1.70 to 1.75 long by 1.15 to 1.20 broad. 

 This beautiful Gallinule inhabits the South Atlantic and Gulf States, and 

 strays occasionally northward as far as Maine, New York, Wisconsin and 

 other northern States. Dr. Wheaton, in "Report on the Birds of Ohio," 

 records several specimens taken in the State. The bird is resident in the 

 South. From its bright purplish blue colors it may quite readily be dis- 

 tinguished from the Florida Gallinule, even at a long distance. In Florida 

 it breeds in the latter part of May. The nest is made on the ground in 

 swamps and marshy places, concealed in the tall rank grass; it is com- 

 posed of dry grasses, weeds, etc. 



Hab. South Atlantic and Gulf States, casually northward to Maine, New York, Wisconsin, etc.; south 

 through the West Indies to Brazil. 



*Key to North American Birds. Containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird 

 at present known from the Continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary, "inclusive of Green- 

 land. Second Edition, revised to date, and entirely rewritten: with which are incorporated General 

 Ornithology: an outline of the structure and classification of birds; and Field Ornithology : a manual of 

 collecting, preparing,and preserving birds. By Elliott Coues, M. A., M. D., Ph. D., Member of the National 

 Academy of Sciences, etc., etc. Profusely illustrated. Boston: Estes and Lauriat. 1884. 



