STRIATED CRAKE. 371 



STRIATED CRAKE.* 



(Carolina Rail WILS.) 



Ortygometra Carolina. 



Rattus Carolinus, LINN. Aud. pi. 233. 



Ortygometra Carolina , LEACH. 



THE only specimen of this bird that I possess 

 was shot among the reeds in Salt Spring morass, 

 near Black River, the habitation of incredible num- 

 bers of these and similar birds. It was near the 

 end of November. Though it slightly differs from 

 Wilson's description, in the buff hue of the vent 

 being scarcely noticeable, I conclude that it is of 

 his species ; the rather, since Mr. Hill has procured 

 a specimen from Passage Fort, in which the buff hue 

 was conspicuous. His specimen was obtained in 

 March. It is probably a winter visitant from the 

 United States, where Wilson describes it as an 

 abundant species. 



In the stomach of that which I dissected, I found 

 only mud and coarse siliceous sand. 



Le petit Rale de Cayenne of Buffon, (PI. enl. 817) 

 is probably a female of this species. 



* Length 9 inches, expanse 13|, flexure 3^, tail 1-^-, rictus ^, tar- 

 sus 1, middle toe If. 



