266 



KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



This species differs from the King Rail in being much gra3'er on the 

 upper parts and paler on the under parts. The Clapper Rail prefers salt 

 water marshes. It ranges on the Atlantic coast from New Jersey south- 

 ward, but has been recorded from Massachusetts. It is not uncommon in 

 Florida, but is probably replaced in nearly all the Gulf States by the local 

 form, known as Scott's Rail. The nest is a little grass on salt water marshes : 

 eggs are from eight to twelve, pale brownish white spotted with dark brown. 



RALLU5 LONGIROSTRIS 5C0TTII {Senii:). 

 Florida Clapper Rail. Scott's Rail. 



Adult: Similar to the preceding species but darker in color and more brownish above; 

 breast rufous brown ; flanks blackish. Both this and the Clapper Rail differ from the King 

 Rail in the color of the wing coverts, which are much more highly colored in that species. 



Rano-e : Gulf coast of Florida. 



Genus PORZANA Vieill. 

 Subgenus PORZANA. 



^^ , 



PORZANA CAROLINA (Z?V///.). 

 Sora. Carolina Rail. 



Above reddish brown, streaked with black and some of the feath- 

 ers edged with white: flanks and linings of the wings barred with 

 white and black : abdomen dull white ; a stripe of black passing 

 from the bill down the center of the throat but not reaching the 

 breast ; whole of the breast, a cheek patch and superciliary line 

 slate color; crown chestnut with a black stripe through the center; 

 carpus edged with white ; crissum rufous, shading into whitish. 



Length, 7.75 : Wing, 4.20; Tail, 2 ; Tarsus, 1.38 ; Bill, .75. 



Ranges from temperate North America south in 

 winter to Northern South America ; it is common in 

 Florida during the migrations. It breeds from Long 

 Island northward : the eggs are from ten to fifteen 

 in number, pale brownish white spotted with dark 

 brown. 



