1909 j ] Wood, Occurrence of the Yellow Rail in Michigan. 3 



Barron collection at Niles, which was examined by the writer in 

 November, 1905. This specimen has no label, but undoubtedly 

 was taken in the vicinity. 



"Jerome Trombley, Petersburg, Mich., has a set of four eggs, 

 which in size and coloration meet perfectly the requirements for 

 this species, and which were taken May 29, 1894, in the township of 

 Ida, Monroe County, Mich. Mr. Trombley did not take the eggs 

 himself, but his collector described the bird which was flushed from 

 the nest, and his description tallied well with that of the Yellow 

 Rail. The situation was in a large cranberry marsh, and the nest 

 was fastened to the tops of the long marsh-grass, the bottom resting 

 on, or just reaching, the water. It was composed entirely of marsh- 

 grass. Mr. Trombley says: 'From the size and appearance of both 

 the bird and eggs the evidence is fairly conclusive, although it is 

 not absolutely certain that the bird was a Yellow Rail.' " 



An unpublished record for the State is that of Mr. Arthur G. 

 Baumgartel of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has lately written 

 me in regard to the notes referred to as follows: "I have your 

 letters of the 2nd inst. with reference to the occurrence of the Yellow 

 Rail in Michigan. The pair of Yellow Rail mentioned was taken 

 by me in 1896 in the marsh north of Holland (Ottawa Co.), Michi- 

 gan. The male on April 21st and the female on April 28th. These 

 birds are now in the Hope College Museum at Holland, [Michigan]. 

 On one of these dates I took a third specimen but it fell in a very 

 boggy place and my young dog, in his hurry to retrieve, jumped on 

 the bird, sinking it into the mud beyond recovery." 



In the collection of Mr. Percy A. Taverner of Highland Park, 

 Michigan, is the skin of "a female that was caught alive by a dog 

 on March 25, 1908, north of and just beyond the city (Detroit) 

 limits. Another bird of the same kind was said to have been 

 flushed immediately afterwards but could not be secured. The 

 one taken was presented to me, I endeavored to keep it alive but 

 without success." (Taverner, 1908, p. 327.) 



My only experience with this species is as follows : On the morn- 

 ing of Sept. 30, 1908, an adult male in fine plumage was found alive 

 near the Museum, on the University of Michigan campus. When 

 first seen the bird was running about in a bewildered way, and 

 when approached flew away a few feet, but was easily captured. 



