68 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



legs and bare parts of tibiae brownish ; iris reddish. A pale streak from base of 

 maxilla runs back over eye ; lores dusky ; top of head and back of neck dark- 

 brownish, almost black ; spot on lower eyelid, chin, most of throat, some feathers on 

 edge of wing also some under tail coverts, white ; sides and front of neck and breast 

 bright rufous, growing paler below, belly in same birds is nearly white ; wing- 

 coverts similar to breast but darker. Feathers of upper parts generally, are mostly 

 brownish-black, edged with olive-brown ; lower part of abdomen, flanks and axillars 

 blackish, with conspicuous transverse white bars. 



Habitat. Fresh-water marshes of the eastern province of the United States, from 

 the Middle States, northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Kansas southward. Casually 

 north to Massachusetts, Maine and Ontario. 



Spring and fall migrant. Most frequently seen in fall, and much less 

 common than either the Virginia or Sora Rails. Always observed singly 

 or in pairs ; often in same swamps with Sora and Virginia Bail during 

 migrations. Probably a regular breeder in some of our extensive 

 swamps and marshes. Specimens of this species have been shot by 

 Messrs. James and Scott Thompson, in the late summer and early 

 autumn, in the neighborhood of Erie city, and Mr. Georg-e B. Sennett 

 has observed it in Erie county as a spring migrant. Dr. John W. Det- 

 willer, of Northampton county, has found nests of this, also the Sora 

 and Little Red Rail in Pennsylvania. Hon. Gerard C. Brown, York 

 county ; A. T. Lilley, Bradford county ; Dr. A. C. Treichler, Lancaster 

 county ; D. Frank Keller, of Berks county, and Dr. Van Fleet, Clinton 

 county, state that the King Rail occurs in their localities as a straggler. 

 During the past ten years I have obtained in Delaware, Philadelphia 

 and Chester counties about a dozen birds of this species ; two of these 

 were killed in spring and the others in August and September. The 

 nest, a rude platform of grasses, weeds, etc., is placed on the ground or 

 in a tussock of grass above the water, in a marsh. The eggs measure 

 about 1.65 x 1.20, and are dull creamy white, dotted and blotched with 

 reddish-brown and light-purple. 



Rallus longirostris crepitans (GMEL.). 



Clapper Rail ; Mud Hen. 



DESCRIPTION. 



This bird is similar in form but somewhat smaller than R. elegans which it re- 

 sembles in general appearance, but lacking the bright rufous as well as other darker 

 colors of the King Rail. 



A dttW. Bill.averages a trifle longer than eleqans. Length about sixteen inches; bill 

 (dried skin), upper half of maxilla brownish, rest of maxilla except end which is 

 brownish, and most of lower mandible pale yellowish brown ; legs grayish-yellow 

 brown ; iris brownish. Top of head, back of neck and upper parts generally gray- 

 ish-olive brown ; feathers have dark centers and paler margins ; chin, upper throat, 

 streak over eye, spot on under eye-lid, and middle of abdomen whitish ; sides, 

 flanks, under wing coverts and axillars dusky grayish-brown, barred with white ; 

 greater part of neck in front, sides of same, and lores, ashy-gray ; breast grayish- 

 white, with a pale reddish-yellow tinge ; this latter color in specimen before me is 

 well shown on front of neck. 



