62 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 



FAMILY RALLID;E. RAILS, GALLINULK^ AND COOTS 



208. KING RAIL (Rallus elegans.) 



Rails are related to Cranes in general structure, but in 

 appearance they are quite different, being much smaller in size. 

 The King Rail is the largest of his tribe and measures about 

 fifteen inches from tip of bill to end of tail. Neck and breast 

 brown ; back and win^s black and brown ; sides and belly barred 

 with brown and white. This bird breeds in the Mississippi River 

 valley and east to the Atlantic coast, and is therefore considered 

 a straggler in the eastern part of the State. 



212. VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus virginianus.) 



The plumage is similar to that of No. 208, but the bird is 

 smaller, measuring only about nine inches ; bill one and one half 

 inches. This Rail is common and breeds in the eastern part of 

 the State. An abandoned nest with eggs was found July 2, 1917, 

 near Lake Preston. The Rails all make their home in wet, 

 marshy places where there is a thick growth of sedges or rushes. 

 They are fleet in the use of their legs but are not adapted to rapid 

 flight. 



214. SORA (Porzana Carolina.) 



Slightly smaller than No. 212. Bill three quarters of an 

 inch in length ; feathers at base of bill and on throat very dark 

 brown or black ; back streaked with brown, buff and white ; un- 

 der parts barred with gray and white. This beautiful Rail is 

 more or less common over the State, nesting frequently in 

 marshy places. 



219. FLORIDA GALLINULE (Galimula galeata.) 



Slightly smaller than the Coot. Head, neck and breast 

 gray ; back brownish gray ; belly barred with white. The crown 

 plate is red; the feet are not lobed for swimming; and the legs 

 and bill are smaller than those of the Coot. These birds are not 

 nearly so abundant in South Dakota as the Coots but from their 

 similarity in appearance doubtless the Coots and Gallinules are 

 often confused. 



221. COOT (Fulica americana.) 



The Coots are a sort of connecting link between Ducks 



