key to the water birds of florida. 267 



Subgenus COTURNICOPS Bonap. 



PORZANA NOVEBORACENSIS {Gmel.). 

 Yellow Rail. 



Above, streaked with blackish and yellowish brown ; feathers 

 barred and mottled with white ; under parts yellowish brown, palest 

 on the belly : feathers of the breast tipped with dark brown ; under 

 surface of wings white; a pale yellowish brown superciliary stripe. 



Length, 6; Wing, 3 to 3.50; Tarsus, .90 to i.oo. 



This species ranges from Hudson's Bay to Cuba. 



It is not uncommon in Florida. I have seen several 



^ ^ specimens which have been killed by people while 



snipe shooting, I have shot two specimens on the 



marshes bordering the St. John's River. The eggs 



are described as pale, creamy buff in color, speckled and sprinkled with 



rusty brown. 



Subgenus CRECISCUS Cabanis. 



PORZANA JAMAICENSIS {Gmei:). 

 Black Rail. 



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 under tail coverts banded with 

 white : bill black. 



Length, 5 : Wing, 2.50 to 3.20; Tarsus, .85 to .90. 



This species occurs in temperate North America 



from Massachusetts to the West Indies and South 



America. It is very retiring in its habits and 



^ therefore seldom seen. The eggs are usually 



ten, being dull white speckled with reddish brown. I have never met 



with it in Florida, but Mr. W. E. D. Scott records it in his list of the birds 



of the Caloosahatchie region. (^Ank, p. 2og, 18^2.) 



