: Cranes 



RALLID^E includes Rails, Gallinules. and Coots. Rails are characterized 

 chiefly by the greatly compressed body, an adaptation that permits easy 

 movement between stalks of marsh vegetation. Toes long, without webs; 

 yet Rails swim well, and dive when forced. Coots have all the toes lobed 

 and are strong swimmers. They live on the water, but are perfectly at 

 home on land. The Gallinule, coot-like in shape, has the unwebbed foot 

 and skulking habit of Rails. 



Southern California W.V. 

 Rare, except in northward 

 migration, Mar.-May, when 

 frequently noted in flocks, 

 sometimes of hundreds of birds. 



Arizona Recorded occa- 

 sionally. 



RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS. Family Rallidse 



Southwestern California 

 Res. Formerly common in 

 salt marshes along the coast 

 from Santa Barbara to San 

 Quentin Bay, Lower Cali- 

 fornia; now fast disappearing 

 and already absent from some^S 

 localities where once nu- 



merous - 



Southern California Res. 

 Fairly common in fresh- 

 water marshes, particularly in 

 tule growth ; rarely in salt marsh 

 of the coast. 



Arizona Common in the 

 few localities offering favorable 

 conditions. 



VirqiniaRail 



