72 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



Habitat. Eastern North America, from Nova Scotia and Hudson's Bay west to 

 Utah and Nevada. No extra-limital record except Cuba and the Bermudas. 



Birds of this species are occasionally taken about our rivers and 

 meadows during- the spring- and fall migrations. I have seen two speci- 

 mens which were captured in the early part of July, 1882, in Delaware 

 county, near Chester city. It is possible that this little rail sometimes 

 breeds in Pennsylvania, yet I have no positive information to this effect. 

 The egg's, according- to^different writers, vary from six to ten, and are 

 described as creamy buff, marked at the larg-er end with reddish spots, 

 and measure about 1.13 by .82 inches. 



Porzana jamaicensis (GMEL.). 



Black Rail. 



DESCRIPTION. 



"Upper parts blackish, finely speckled and barred with white, the hind neck and 

 fore back dark chestnut. Head and under parts dark slate color, paler or whitening 

 on the throat, the lower belly, flanks, and under wing and tail-coverts barred with 

 white. Quills and tail-feathers with white spots. Very small ; length about 5| ; 

 wing 22 to 3 ; tail 1^ ; tarsus %." Cone's Key. 



Habitat. Temperate North America, north to Massachusetts, northern Illinois 

 and Oregon ; south to West Indies and in western South America to Chili. 



This diminutive, shy and secretive bird the smallest of our North 

 A Tierican rails is said to have been found, many years ag-o, breeding- 

 in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, by the late John Itrider. I have 

 seen two specimens which were shot in September, on the Delaware, 

 near Chester city. Dr. John W. Detwiller, of Bethlehem, has captured 

 this species in his locality; Georg-e R. Ross, of Lebanon, says that 

 he has taken two in Lebanon county, one, Aug-ust, 1879, the other Au- 

 gust, 1880. I have never seen the eg-g-s of the Black Rail. Mr. Ridg-- 

 way* says they number "about nine, 1.01 by .79, white or buffy white ? 

 sprinkled, or finely speckled, chiefly on the larg-er end, with dark red- 

 dish-brown or chestnut." 



SUBFAMILY GALLINULIN.5!. GALLINULES. 



THE GALLINULES. 



The Gallinnles are found in the same localities as the rails, to which they are quite 

 similar in habits. Two species occur in the United States, and both are found in 

 Pennsylvania. They have a broad, bare, and often highly colored horny plate on 

 the forehead ; bill short and similar in shape to birds of the genus Porzana. Feet 

 large and stout; toes long, "and in G. galeata with a slight marginal membrane." 

 Gallinules nest in marshes, and lay many yellowish or buff-colored and spotted eggs. 



* Manual of North American Birds, p. 140. 



