Descriptive List 107 



H. H. Brimley, he has made expeditions into this thinly settled section of the State 

 to verify, if possible, the reports of the occurrence of this strange bird. These trips 

 have been without result other than to convince both men that the Sandhill Crane 

 is a regular, although not common, summer resident in this region. Wayne says 

 in The Birds of South Carolina, page 34: "The specimens which were in the 

 Charleston Museum were taken on the Waccaniaw River." The Waccamaw River 

 flows through Brunsmck County, North Carolina, and empties into the Little Pee 

 Dee River, not more than sixty miles from the boundary between the two States. 



The Limpkin or Crying-bird, Aramus vociferus {Lath.), belonging to the family Aramidce, 

 somewhat resembles a large rail. The adult is "glo.ssy olive-brown, the feathers of the head 

 and neck narrowly, those of the body broadly striped with white; wings and tail more bronzy." 

 Length about 28 inches. The usual range of this bird is from Florida southward through the 

 West Indies and Central America. Wayne records in The Birds of South Carolina the capture 

 of tliree specimens in that State. It is just possible that" it may come occasionally to North 

 Carolina. Pearson and H. H. Brimley had a bird described to them by a man who killed it 

 in Brunswick County in May, 1908, which was probably of this species. 



17. FAMILY RALLID/E. RAILS. GALLINULES, AND COOTS 



KEY TO GENERA 



1. Forehead covered bj- a shield-Uke extension of the culmen. See 2. 



1. No shield-like extension of culmen over forehead. Rails. See 4. 



2. Front toes provided on then- sides with broad, lol:ied membranes. Fulica. (Coots.) 



2. Front toes without membranous flaps on sides. Gallinules. See 3. 



3. Nostrils small, oval. Middle toe without claw shoHer than tarsus. lonornis. 



3. Nostrils elongate, slit-like. Middle toe without claw longer than tarsus. Gallinula. 



4. Bill slender, as long as or longer than the tarsus. Rallus. 



4. Bill stout, not more than two-thirds as long as the tarsus, usually much less. See 5. 

 .5. Secondaries wliite. Colurnicops. 



5. Secondaries not white. See 6. 



6. Wing more than 4 inches. Porzana. 

 6. Wing less than 3?^ inches. Credscits. 



Genus Rallus (Linn.) 



This genus comprises the larger, long-billed rails, of which four species and sub- 

 species occur in the State. 



KEY TO SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES 



1. Size smaller, wing less than 4J^ inches. Virginia Rail. 



1. Size larger, wing more than 5 inches. See 2. 



2. Upperparts with much reddish brown. King Rail. 



2. Upperparts more or less grayish. See 3. 



3. Feathers of the back centrally pale brown, then- edges pale ashy, underparts usually less 



ashy. Clapper Rail. 

 3. Feathers of the back centrally rich seal brown, their edges bright ashy, underparts usually 

 more ashy. Wayne's Clapper Rail. 



87. Rallus elegans {Aud.). King Rail. 



_ Ads.— -Upperparts varying from olive-brown to black, the back and scapulars widely mar- 

 gined with oUve-gray; wings and tail ohve-brown; wing-coverts rufous; throat white; neck and 

 breast cinnamon-rufous; belly and sides fuscous, sharply barred with wliite. Downy young. — ■ 

 Glossy black. L., 1.5.00; W., 0..50; Tar., 2.20; B., 2.40. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. — Eastern North America, breeding from New York to Florida; wintering mainly 

 south of North CaroHna. 



Range in North Carolina. — Fresh-water marshes in summer; occurs to some extent in winter 

 from Raleigh eastward. 



