BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 



213 



YELLOW RAIL {Coturnicops noveboracensis) . 



Length. — 6 to 7.50 inches. 



Adult. — Above streaked with blackish and brownish yellow, with fine cross 

 lines and bars of white; a dusky streak from bill across cheek to ear; 

 sides of head, neck and under parts pale brownish yellow, fading on 

 belly, with rows of darker marks on flanks and numerous narrow white 

 bars; bill yellow; legs and feet pale brownish yellow. 



Field Marks. — Small size, yellowish color; the wing in flight shows much 

 white. 



Notes. — An abrupt cackling, 'krek, 'krck, 'krek, krek, kiik, Ickh (Nuttall). 

 Kik-kik-kik-kik-queah, or, more rarely, kik-kik-kik-kik-kik-kik-kik-kik-ki- 

 queah (J. H. Ames). 



Season. — A rare migrant, April and May, September to November; re- 

 corded in December and June. 



Range. — Chiefly eastern North America. Breeds from southern Macken- 

 zie and southern Ungava south to Minnesota and Maine; winters in the 

 Gulf States, rarely in California, Illinois and North Carolma; casual m 

 Nevada, Utah and Bermuda. 



History. 

 This little Rail is seen rather rarely in Massachusetts. 

 Nuttall (1834) says that according to a Mr. Ives the bird is 

 frequently found in marshes near Salem, Mass. I have met 

 with it alive onlv once, but have seen a considerable number 

 of specimens taken in Massachusetts, several of which were 

 killed by the Boston taxidermist, Mr. C. I. Goodale, in Wake- 

 field, Mass. It probably is more common in migration than 

 is believed generally, as it is very small and its habits are 



