JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 385 



Genus CRECISCUS Caban. 



98. Creciscus jamaicensis (GMEL.). 



BLACK RAIL. 



Porzana jamaicensis (Gmel.), A. O. U. Check List, 1895, p. 79. 

 Distr.: Temperate North America, from Massachusetts, Illinois, 

 and Oregon south to the West Indies and Guatemala. 



Adult: Top of the head, dusky; nape and upper back, brownish 

 chestnut; rest of back and upper tail feathers, dusky or smoky brown, 

 finely barred with white; throat, gray or ash 

 gray; belly, gray; flanks and lower belly and 

 undertail covers, banded with white; bill, black. 

 Length, 5; wing, 2.50 to 3.20; tarsus .85 to 

 .90. 



The Black Rail is a regular summer resident 

 in Illinois and perhaps in southern Wisconsin, 

 but on account of its small size and retiring 

 habits it is rarely seen. 



According to Nelson, it is not very rare in 

 Black Rail. northern Illinois and breeds. He records the 



finding of a set of ten eggs of this species by Mr. Frank Dewitt, near 

 the Calumet River, June 19, 1875. (Birds N. E. Illinois, 1876, p. 134.) 

 Kumlien and Hollister say: "The only record we are aware of is the 

 following: August 20, 1877, a Marsh Hawk was killed by Frithiof 

 Kumlien from a muskrat house on the border of Lake Koshkonong. 

 When noted first it was eating something and this proved to be a 

 little black rail. We are quite sure of having seen it on one occasion, 

 but the above is probably the only authentic record for the state as 

 yet." (Birds of Wisconsin, 1903, p. 39.) 



The nest is of grass, built on the ground. The eggs are 8 to 10, 

 creamy white or dull white, and measure about i x .80 inches. An 

 admirable account of the breeding and distribution of this species is 

 given by Dr. J. A. Allen in the Auk, Vol. XVII, 1900, p. i. 



