RAIL AND REED BIRDS. 1 79 



have been materially increased. It was apparent that the species 

 was migrating in considerable numbers, and that its supposed 

 rarity is in a great measure due to its retiring habits, and to its 

 propensity for hiding when it can instead of flying. It is evident 

 that a collector familiar with these habits would have no difficulty 

 in securing a goodly number of specimens. 



The facts just related would seem to indicate that if collectors 

 did but know where and at what time to look for them, some of 

 the migrating birds now considered fare in certain localities might 

 be found there in considerable numbers ; and that as our knowl- 

 edge of bird life and habits becomes more and more extended, the 

 so-called rare species will gradually be eliminated from our lists, 

 until finally the time will come when we shall know just where 

 and when to look for any given species. 



Por::a)ia Jamaiceusis. — Cassin. Black Rail. 



Color blackish, head and under parts dark slaty, paler on 

 throat, above speckled with white, upper portion of back varied 

 with dark chestnut, flanks white-barred. A very small bird, about 

 five and a half inches in length — found in South and Central 

 America and West Indies, rare in the United States. There are 

 a few instances on record of this bird having been secured in the 

 Middle States, notably the finding of one in Massachusetts in 1869. 

 It was during the migrating season, and the bird was found on 

 the ground beneath the telegraph wires. What was said at the 

 close of our remarks on the Little Yellow Rail about their sup- 

 posed rarity, may apply equally well to this species. 



Gallinula £-aieaia.—Bon. Florida Gallinule. King Rail. 



Head, neck and under parts greyish black, darkest on head, 

 paler or whitening on the belly, back brownish olive, wings and 

 tail dusky, edge of wing, stripes on the flanks white, bill and 

 frontal plate red, the former tipped with yellow, length twelve to 

 fifteen inches. An inhabitant of the South Atlantic and Gulf 

 States, occurs occasionally north to Massachusetts. 



Porphyria martinica.—T&mm. Purple Gallinule. 



Head, neck and under parts purplish blue, above olivaceous- 

 green, frontal shield blue, bill red with yellow tip, legs yellowish ; 



