108 NOTES ON THE 



PORZANA JAMAICENSIS (Gmelin). (216.) 



BLACK RAIL. 



I record this southern species entirely upon a report that one 

 individual was taken last year in Fillmore county. Its descrip- 

 tion was so well given that, without seeing the specimen, which 

 was taken to some eastern collection before I had an opportu- 

 nity to examine it, I believe there can be no reasonable doubt 

 of its identity. Besides, it is a matter of record that it has been 

 obtained in Wisconsin several times, a good many years since. 

 (Birds of the N. W., Coues. ) 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Smaller than the Sora, or any other North American Rail. 

 Head and entire under parts bluish ash, or nearly slate color; 

 darker and nearly black on top of head; abdomen and under 

 tail coverts with transverse bands of white; neck behind and 

 upper part of back dark reddish-chestnut; other upper parts 

 brownish-black with circular spots and irregular transverse 

 stripes of white; quills brownish-black, with small spots of 

 white; tail nearly same colors. 



Length, 5; wing, 3.25; tail, 1.50. 



Habitat, middle and southern states. L. B.R. 



GALLINULA GALEATA (Lichtenstein). (219.) 



FLORIDA GALLINULE. 



This is another species which I found in the hands of Mr. 

 Shroeder as long ago as 1865. Since then I have had ample 

 opportunity to decide that although not common, it is a regular 

 summer resident, breeding in the Minnesota River bottoms at 

 Big Stone lake, and along the Red river. 



It has been seen very rarely earlier than in June, when they 

 were unquestionably breeding, although in one or two instances 

 it has been observed in April, thereby showing that it migrates 

 in all probability as early as the Rails do, and possibly the 

 principal ducks. One nest obtained by a gentleman residing 

 ^t Fort Wayne, Indiana, (Mr. George), and brought in with the 

 bird, was constructed entirely of reeds, which constituted but 

 the upper portion of a mass that had been bailt up out of the 

 water. It contained ten eggs of a light brown color, spattered 

 and splotched with reddish- brown, more marked about the 

 larger end. Other nests have been described to me as having 



