RAILS, i. \U.I\ri.KS, AMI COOT& in 



by it* gencmlU crux Uh instead <>f brownish ur l-ln.-ki.ili u|'j*-r part*, )>jr iu 

 much paler bivast un<l flanks and palrr wing-covorta. 



A'aw^*. Brood* in nail-water marahea of canlcm North America from 

 Connect i> ut t<> tin- <iulf of Mexico; winters in Miiall number* from near the 

 northern limit of iu range southward. 



W liiiitft<.ii. A. V , ..lie rc.-., r .l. I.ontf Inland, common S. K., A|>l. to Oct, 

 a few winter. Sim; Sine. A. V. 



. of graMM*, on the g round, in grass-grown, salt-water marshes. Eygt, 

 eight to twelve, l>u:I'\ white, sjiottcd and *j.e<-kl<-d with rufous- brown, 172 x 1-20. 



The ( l;ip|HT Kail is an inhabitant of grassy, salt-water marshes, and, 

 in the southern part- i.f its range, of mangrove swamps. It-is almost 

 impossible to fln>h these birds unless their haunts are invaded by an 

 unusually high tide, when a boat may be pushed through the meadows 

 and the birds forced to take wing. I have heard birds calling in the 

 tall grass within a few feet of me, and have made a wild rush in tln-ir 

 direction, only to be mocked a moment later by apparently the same 

 bird calling from a point almost within reach. They dodge alx>ut over 

 well-traveled pathways like children in a game of bliiidman's buff. 



While ii"t strictly gngarinus, they live in colonies, and the long, 

 rolling cnll of one bird is sometimes taken up and repeated by others 

 until there is a general outcry through the marsh. 



21 la. R. L saturatua ///..//. I.i I-I\N\ <'I.APPKR KAIL. A local 

 race of the Clapper Kuil found in tin- niursln-s of LoutHiana. Iu characters 

 appear not to be well un.U r>txxl. It i.s mueh darker than <r<yi<an, but not 

 M> dark a t.-^tt,,. W., 5-5 ; Tar., 1-97 ; B., 2-27 " (Kidgw.). 



;i>t nf T.iiuisiuna. 



Sllb. R. L scottii .X-/./..I. KI..KII.A < i M'l-Ku KAIL. Difft-re from 

 tftfitant in tx;in^ black, fiwcouit, or olive-brown al>ovc, with olivu-tfray nmr 

 irin- t the iVathen* ; in liavhitf the nrck aiul 1-n-it-t einnniiin rufus washed 

 with l-nwnip.h. and in huviiiif tin- U-lly and tlunki* t>liu-k instt-ud <>( jfray. In 

 fui-t, tin- general color of ttottii su^gexts a Kiinr Kail, but the luttcr inuy always 

 Ix- known by ita rv/ovi wing-coverts and rl,ar oinnamon-rufous neck and 

 brawl W., 5-50 ; Tar., 1-90 ; B., 2-40. 



ILHt "f Florid*. 



212. Rallus virginianofl f.inn . VIII..IMA KMI.. .1 / I ! !-rj.art.t 

 fuitcoun or black, the feat h IT* burih-n-d \<\ j-nle tfrayinh bn>wn; wintfsand 

 tail dark rayir.li Ln.wn; wing-covvrtn rufoun, lorvs whitish, <-lu-t-k gray, 

 throat white, rent of tlu- uinlcr parti* cinnamon -ruf"un; Hunks and under tail- 

 uarreil or |H.tt.-.l with black and white. lmc*y i'ouny.Glomy 

 black. L., 9-j'iO; W^4-80; Tu |-.vi. 



Ay<. BlMds from northern Illinois, |Ynn\ hunia. nixl I.-. in; Nland to 

 Manitoba and I^ibrador; winters fnun near tin- southern limit of iu breeding 

 range Muthward. 



Waahington. pmbably 1'. K. Long Island, common S. K., Apl. to Oct.; a 



