35 
sparingly in the sand-hill region. Arrives late in March and in April 
and departs in October. 
Famity RALLIDZ—Raits, GALLINULES, AND CoorTs 
. Forehead provided with a shield-like, horny extension: of the bill; 
WENGE RRCA Coens swiltt corr notes. saa came ened, «1c oo aaa cae (2) 
Forehead without the shield-like, horny extension of bill............ (4) 
2. Toes with broad, membranous lobes; slate-colored, with 
wiltee-tipped secondary quills.) o.../36 3) yet a ie .Coot. 
2. Toes without lobes...... Ele . (3) 
. Most of the head and all under Burts a enaiean fle an the: young ae 
tled with white); back olive-green (washed with brownish in the 
young). LAR Nees .Purple Gallinule. 
. Generally sates cploredl Soa ie conspicuous ae ecules on the 
Hames oatre..s 2p Gert .Florida Gallinule. 
4. Bill slender, Hees Se 2 or more eanches eae upper parts rich 
olive-brown, streaked with black; 16 to 19 inches long.. 
seh pecme Rat. 
4, Bill fenders idecure Re ae to 13 iohes bag upper aie black 
and grayish brown; 8 to 104 inches long........ Virginia Rail. 
4. Bill stout, not decurved:, ieinehcorless ime lenedine rs ee. oe sere (5) 
Feathers of the back black with broad, buffy borders....... Yellow Rail. 
Back blackish with round, white spots......0.'...0 20.40; «. Black Rail. 
Olive-brown, streaked with white on back and wings.............. Sora. 
08. *Rallus elegans Audubon—Kine RalIt. 
A summer resident in the eastern third of the state, but not com- 
mon, arriving early in May and breeding in June. West Point, Elk- 
horn, Omaha, and Sarpy, Lancaster, and Harlan counties—breeding 
at Omaha. In the Proc. N. O.-U., Il, p. 84, J.S. Hunter reports the 
King Rail from Cherry county but later experience seems to throw 
doubt on this identification, although since in the Proceedings, I, p. 
16, J. M. Bates says this species was reported to him as on Ballard’s 
lake, in the same locality, in September, 1898, its occurrence in the 
sand-hill region may later be verified. 
212. *Rallus virginianus Linnaeus—VirGINIA Ratt. 
A common migrant, at times even abundant, and also a common 
breeder in the northern part of the state and in the sand-hill region, 
but a rather rare breeder in the southeastern portion of Nebraska. 
Arrives early in May, leaves about the end of September. Omaha, 
West Point, Plattsmouth, Lincoln, Gresham, Neligh, and Cherry 
county—found once breeding at Lincoln, and a common breeder at 
Neligh and in Cherry county. 
214. *Porzana carolina (Linnaeus)—CaroLina RaIL; Sora. 
An abundant migrant, and rather common breeder in the eastern 
part of the state, a rare breeder in the sand-hill region. Same dates 
as the preceding. West Point, Oakland, Peru, Richardson county, 
