112 BlKDS OF XORTU CaKOLINA 



latest October 30. In the spring his earliest record is April S, and the latest May 

 13. Cairns in 1894 fonnd them at Weavcrville, Runconilic County, Septenilx-r 1 

 to 6, and April 30 to May (i. Bishop has taken tiicni at Pea Island, Dare County, 

 May 13, 1901, and May 10, 1902. H. H. Brimley saw one on Lake Ellis May 12, 

 1906, and another was killed hy him on May 13, 1911. One was brought to Pear- 

 son at ( ireensboro. August 19, 1909, which had evidently Ix'en killed the night before 

 by striking a telephone wire. 



Genus Coturnicops Bonap.) 

 92. Coturnicops noveboracensis (Gmel.). Yellow Rail. 



Descripiion: Aih. — Uppcrpart.'; black, the fcathors honicroil with (x'tiraccoiis-lmfT ami with 

 from OIK! to tliree nan'ow whitf bars; breast o<'hrai'c<)us-l)iilT: niiilillc of tlic bcllv wliito; sides 

 and lower liellv blaek or browiiisli, liarred with while. L., 7.01); \V., 3.40; Tar.", .9.'); H., ..'j2. 

 (C.'hap., Bir<U of E. X. A.) 



Range. — Eastern North Aineriea, breeding from Maine northward; winters in the Gulf 

 States. 



Range in North Carolina. — Whole State during the migrations; rare; winters in the ea-st. 



■^^^^r^ 



Pig. 74. Ykllow Umi.. 



The Yellow Rail is without doubt a rare liird in this State. Coues saw one in 

 Carteret County, April 12, 1870; H. H. Brimley found two exhiljited in the flesh 

 at the New Bern Fair in February, 1892; and Cairns took a male at Weaver\nlle, 

 15imcoinbe County, Oetober 19, 1894. 



One was sent to Pearson by M. W. Haynes of Tarl)oro, wiio stated that he i)icked 

 it up at that place on the morning of September 23, 1908. It had been killed during 

 the previous night by flying against a telephone wire. Bisho]) s(>eured two on Pea 

 Island, Dare County, in 1908; one, an adult male, was killed December 20, the 

 other, also an adult male, was taken about December 26. A living specimen was 

 brougiit to Pearson at Greensboro Oetob(>r 4. 1910, by a colored man. who said lie 

 had just caught it in a barn near town. 



The Pea Island and New Bern records would seem to sliow that the sjiecies may 

 winter in the coastal region, while the others indicate it to be only a migrant in 

 the rest of the State. Any conclusions as to its actual rarity or abundance can only 

 be surmises, as the bird is of extremely unobtrusive and skulking habits. It is an 

 iidiat)itant of w(>t meadows and is said to be exceedingly difficult to flush. 



Genus Creciscus iCab.i 



This genus contains two sjiecies in North America. One is found on the Pacific 

 coast of the United Stat(»s, the other in the East. 



