RALLIDZ, RAILS, ETC.—GEN. 240, 241. 273 
American species (Sclater and Salvin) only 7 occur in this country, one of which is 
merely a straggler. There are some 25 Old World species. 
240. Genus RALLUS Linneus. 
Clapper Rail. Salt-water Marsh-hen. Mud-hen. Above, variegated with 
dark olive-brown and pale olive-ash, the latter edging the feathers; below, 
pale dull ochrey-brown, whitening on the throat, frequently ashy-shaded on 
the breast; flanks, 
axillars and lining 
of wings, fuscous- 
gray, with sharp 
white bars; quills 
and tail plain dark- 
brown; eyelids and 
short superciliary 
line whitish ; young 
birds are mostly 
soiled whitish be- 
low; when just * 
from the Ss» eh Fig. 178. Clapper Rail. 
tirely sooty black. 
14-16 long; wing 5-6; tail 2-24; bill 2-24; tarsus 13-2; middle toe and 
claw 2-24; 9 smaller than the g. Salt marshes of Atlantic States, 
extremely abundant southerly ; N. regularly to middle districts, sometimes 
to Massachusetts; Great Salt Lake (Allen). Eggs 6 to 10, 13 by 14, 
whitish, creamy or buff, variously speckled and blotched with reddish- 
brown, with a few obscure lavender marks. &. crepitans WILs., Vil, p. 112; 
Nourr., ii, 201; Aup., v, 165, pl. 310; Cass. in Bp., 747. LONGIROSTRIS. 
King Rail. Fresh-water Marsh-hen. With a general resemblance to the 
last species, but much more brightly colored; above, brownish-black, 
variegated with olive-brown, becoming rich chestnut on the wing coverts ; 
under parts rich rufous or cinnamon-brown, usually paler on the middle of 
the belly, and whitening on the throat; flanks and axillars blackish, white- 
barred. Rather larger than the last. U.S., chiefly in fresh-water marshes. 
Wus., vii, pl. 62, f. 2; Aup., v, 160, pl. 309; Cass. in Bp., 746. ELEGANS. 
Virginia Rail. Coloration exactly as in elegans, of which it is a perfect 
miniature. Length 83-10}; wing about 4; tail about 13; bill 14-13 ; 
tarsus 14-14; middle toe and claw 14-13. Temperate N. Am., common, 
migratory ; many winter in the S. states. Wu.s., vii, LOO F pleG 2s. tomes 
Nurt., ii, 205; Aup., v, 174, pl. 311; Cass. in Bp., 748. . VIRGINIANUS. 
241. Genus PORZANA Vieillot. 
Carolina Rail. Common Rail. Sora. “ Ortolan.” Above, olive-brown, 
varied with black, with numerous sharp white streaks and specks; flanks, 
axillars and lining of wings, barred with white and blackish; belly whitish ; 
KEY TO N. A. BIRDS. 35 
