EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 33 



Cranes in general color and markings. Breeds in Florida, the 

 West Indies, and on the Atlantic coast of Central America, in 

 March. 



Family XXI. — RALLID^. Rails, Gallinules, and Coots, 



All members of this family place their nests on the ground, 

 in marshy places. They are composed of grass, weeds, etc. 

 Eggs, numerous. 



208. King Rail, Rallus elegans. Eggs, 8 to 10, oval, bluish 

 white or creamy, dotted and spotted rather sparingly with red- 

 dish brown and lilac; 1.15 -|- 1.55 to 1.25 -|- 1.77. Known 

 from the preceding by the paler colors. Breeds in the fresh- 

 water marshes of the Eastern United States, from the Middle 

 States, southward. 



209. Belding's Rail, Rallies beldingi. Eggs, unknown. 

 Breeds on the Espiritu Islands, Gulf of California. 



210. California Clapper Rail, JRallus obseletiis. Eggs, 

 unknown, but probably similar to those of No. 208. Breeds on 

 the salt marshes of the Pacific coast, from Washington Terri- 

 tory to Lower California. 



211. Clapper Rail, JRallus longirostris crepitans. Eggs, 

 8 to 10, oval, buffy yellow, dotted and spotted irregularly with 

 reddish brown and lilac; 1.05 -j- 1.60 to 1.15 -{- 1.75. Known 

 from those of No. 208 by the more buffy tinge. Breeds on 

 the salt marshes of the Atlantic, from New Jersey, southward, 

 early in June. 



211a. Louisiana Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris satura- 

 tus. Eggs, similar to those of No. 211. Breeds in the salt 

 marshes of the Gulf States, from Florida to Louisiana. 



212. Virginia Rail, Rallus virginianus. (Type, Plate 

 III.) Eggs, 8 to 10, oval, creamy v. hite, sparingly spotted and 

 dotted with reddish brown and lilac ; .90 -j- 1-20 to .95 + 1.30. 

 Resemble those of No. 208, but much smaller. Breeds in the 

 fresh marshes throughout North America, from the British 

 Provinces, southward, to Guatemala and Cuba, early in June. 



