ki<:y to the \vati:i^ ihrds of Florida. 



267 



Sriu.KM s COTURNICOPS Bonap. 



PORZANA N0VEB0RACENSI5 (C/w/.). 

 Yellow Rail. 



Above, streaked with hlackisli and yellowish brown : feathers 

 l:)arred 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 1.00. 



This species ranijjes from Hudson's Bay to Cuba. 

 It is not uncommon in Florida. I ha\e seen se\eral 

 specimens which haxe been killed by people while 

 snipe shooting. I liave shot two specimens on the 

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



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



rustv brown. 



Subgenus CRECISCUS Cabanis. 



PORZANA JAMAICENSI5 {G/ucI.). 

 Black Rail. 



Top of the head dusky ; nape and upper back brownish 

 chestnut : rest of liack and upper tail feathers dusky or smoky 

 l)rown finely barred with white: throat gray or ash gray; belly 

 gray : tlanks 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 occtu^s in temperate North America 



from Massachusetts to the West Indies and South 



America. It is \ery 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. (.\iik, p. 20i), /Spj.) 



