104 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



211. Clapper Rail. Rallus crepitans. 



Range. Salt marshes of the Atlantic coast from southern New England 

 southward. 



A grayish colored Rail, about the size 

 of, and with the markings similar to those 

 of the King Rail. It is as exclusively a 

 salt water species as the King Rail is a 

 fresh water one. With the possible ex- 

 ception of the Carolina or Sora Rail, this 

 is the most abundant of all the Rails, 

 hundreds nesting in a single marsh on 

 the South Atlantic coast. Their nests are 

 built of rushes and weeds, and are placed 

 on the ground either in the tall grass 

 bordering the marshes or attached to the 

 [Buff.] rushes in the midst of the marsh. The 



nesting season commences during April 



and continues through May. They lay from six to fourteen eggs, of a buff 

 color spotted irregularly with brown and gray. Size 1.70_x 1.20. 



2 I la. Louisiana Clapper Rail. Rallus crepitans saturatus. 



The habitation of this subspecies is limited to the coast of Louisiana. It is 

 very similar to the preceding but is said to be brighter in plumage. 



2Mb. Scott Clapper Rail. Rallus crepitans scotti. 

 Range. Western coast of Florida. 

 This bird is also similar to crepitans but is much darker and brighter. 



21 Ic. Wayne Clapper Rail. Rallus crepitans ivaynei. 



Range. South Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Florida. 



This subspecies is a little darker than crepitans, being about midway between 

 that species and Rallus scotti. The nests and eggs of any of these subspecies 

 cannot be distinguished from those of the common Clapper Rail. 



21 1.2. Caribbean Clapper Rail. Rallus longirostris caribous. 



Range. West Indies and east coast of Mexico, north to southern Texas. 

 This species is similar to the Clapper, but has a shorter and relatively stouter bill. 



212,. Virginia Rail. Rallus Virginian us. 



Range. Temperate North America, breeding from ^tfM 



the Middle States and California, northward to Brit- 

 ish Columbia and babrador, and wintering along the 

 Gulf coast; most abundant in the east. 



A small Rail, 9 inches long, very similar in mark- 

 ings and coloration to the King 'Rail. It is found 

 chiefly in fresh water swamps, where it builds its 

 nests in tufts of rushes. The eggs number from six 

 to fourteen, and are creamy white, or white, specked 

 with reddish brown. Size 1.25 x .90. Data.-Fight- 



ing Island, Detroit River, Michigan, May 30, 1894. Nest made of marsh grass, 

 in rushes, 6 inches above the water. Collector, E. Leroy King. 



