BLACK KAIL. 121 



dark brown ; flanks, rufous with many white bars ; lining of the wing, white ; 

 a brownish-yellow streak over the eye. Length, about 6 inches ; wing, 3^ ; tail, 

 U; bill, 4. 



Hab. — Eastern North America, from Nova Scotia and Hudson's Bay west to 

 Utah and Nevada. No extra-limital record except Cuba and the Bermudas. 



Nest, like that of the other rails. 



Eggs, six to eight, dark buflf color, marked with retldish spots at the greater 

 end. 



We know little of this bird, partly because it belongs to a class 

 much given to keeping out of sight, but chiefly because it is a rare 

 species everywhere. During the present year, I saw a fine mounted 

 specimen in the store of Mr. Cross, taxidermist, Toronto. It was 

 obtained in the marsh near that city, and I have heard of another 

 which a few years ago was shot near the same place, and is now in 

 the public museum at Ottawa. The greater number of specimens of 

 the Yellow Rail now in existence have been found in New England, 

 but that may ])e owing to the greater number of collectors there. It 

 would be well for our Canadian sportsmen to look out for the species 

 when visiting its haunts, because from its general resemblance to the 

 Sora, it may readily be overlooked. 



One observer reports it as a tolerably common summer resident 

 near Winnipeg, and it has also Ijeen noticed at Fort George by 

 Dr. Bell'. It has, therefore, a wide distribution, but is nowhere 

 abundant. 



Subgenus CRECISCUS Cabonis. 

 PORZANA JAMAICENSIS (Gmel.). 



84. Black Rail. (216) 



Upper parts, blackish, finely speckled and barred with white; the hind neck 

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

 whitening on the throat ; the lowei' belly, flanks and under wing and tail covert 

 barred with white ; quills and tail feathers with wliite spots, very small. 

 Length, aboiit 5.50; wing, 2.75-3.00; tail, 1.35; tarsus, 0.75. 



Hab. — South and Central America and West Indies. 



Nest, in a deep cup-shaped depression resembling that of the Meadow Lark, 

 only deeper in proportion to its width; the outer portion composed of grass- 

 stems and blades, the inner portion of soft blades of grass arranged in a circular 

 manner a:id loosely interwoven. 



Eggs, ten, clear white, thinly sprinkled with reddish-brown dots which 

 become more numerous toward the greater end. 



This is one of the rarest of American birds, or, rather, it is one of 

 those least frequently found. Fi'om its small size and the fact that 



