33 



Subgenus COTURNTCOPS Bonaparte. 



75. Porzana noveboracensis ( GmeL). YELLOW RAIL. 



A rare migrant. The movements of these birds are hard to trace. They seem 

 to be nowhere common, and while they have been reported from several localities, 

 I am unable to learn that they are summer residents within our limits. It has 

 been reported from the following counties: Clinton ( Newlin); Decatur (.West); 

 Delaware ( Williamson); Monroe ( Evermann). Mr. Dury writes that he has re- 

 ceived several specimens from Indiana, two of which are in his collection and one 

 in that of the Cuvier Club, Cincinnati, Ohio. In September, 1879, quite a number 

 were found in a small swamp, less than two miles north of Brookville. They were 

 very tame, and several were caught by ploughmen in their hands, two of which were 

 brought to me. Mr. Ruthven Deane has kindly placed at my disposal two very 

 interesting letters upon these bird* from Mr. Wm. S. Perry, of Worcester, Massa- 

 chusetts, who twice met with them in our State. The exact locality, I am unable 

 to give, but understand it was on the Kankakee Marsh. He first visited that lo- 

 cality April 13, 1876, when he found two, and for this reason was led there again 

 in the spring of 1885. He says: "I consider them quite rare. I hunted every 

 day for six weeks eppecially for Kails and probably started 1,500 Virginia, 1,500 

 Sora, 200 King and five Yellow. I think that is about the proportion they occur, 

 alihough with the experience I had could probably find more if I should try again. 

 I found the Yellow Rail on a very small part of the marsh, say fifty acres in 

 extent, rather high ground that is not so boggy and wet as where the other species 

 of Rail were plenty. * * * They come very early in April, and possibly late in 

 March. The five I have I got between the dates of April 2 and 13." 



Subgecus CRECISCUS Cabanis. 



76. Porzana jamaicensis ((Jmel.). BLACK RAIL. 



Very rare migrant, and perhaps summer resident. The only known occurrence 

 in the State was at English Lake, April 22, 1888, when it was identified by Mr. 

 Ruthven Deane. Since they are known to be rare summer residents in northern 

 Illinois and residents in the southern portion of that State, we may expect to find 

 such to be the case with us. 



SUBFAMILY GALLINULIN^E. GALLINULES. 



GENUS IONORNIS REICHENBACH. 



77. lonornis martinica (Linn.). PURPLE GALLINULE. 



A rare migrant. Doubtless it is also a rare summer resident of our swampi?, 

 but at present it is only known as first given. It has been reported from the fol- 

 lowing counties : Wayne, two specimens ( DeWitt ) ; Decatur, one specimen, May, 

 1883, (Guthrie ), and from Franklin County, where one was captured in the spring 

 of 1880. 



GENUS GALLINULA BRISSON. 



''78. Qallinula galeata (Licht.). FLORIDA GALLINULE. 



Migrant regularly, not common ; northward, summer resident, locally com- 

 mon. Breeds.' They are recognized as very late migrants for birds of their kind ; 

 are usually taken outside of localities where they spend the summer, late in April 

 and early in May. They are found with young throughout the month of June. 

 They have been reported as breeding from the following counties: Starke Eng- 

 3 APP. HORT. 



