133 



Family GRUID^S. 

 Genus Grus Linn. 



243. G. americanus Linn. WHOOPING CRANE. Once an abun- 

 dant migrant, but is now of rare occurrence in this vicinity. Along 

 the Illinois River and more thinly settled portions of the State it is 

 still common during the migrations, and a few pairs breed upon the 

 large marshes in Central Illinois. 



244. G. canadensis Linn. SANDHILL CKANK. Formerly nested 

 abundantly on all the larger marshes, but now few remain *to breed 

 except on one or two large marshes in the central part of the State, 

 where, I understand, they are still quite numerous. 



Family EALLID^I. 

 Genus Hallus Linn. 



245. R. elegans And. KING RAIL. Common summer resident. 

 Arrives the last of April and departs in October. Have obtained half- 

 grown young the first of July, although they usually breed later than 

 this. Found about grassy marshes and prairie sloughs. 



246. R. virginianus Linn. VIRGINIA RAIL. Common summer 

 resident. Arrives and departs with the preceding. I have obtained 

 nests with eggs from the Gth-of May until the middle of June. This 

 species is found in almost any place where it can tind suitable food. 

 I have often flushed it in thickets when looking for woodcock, as well 

 as from the midst of large marshes. The nest cafi rarely be distin- 

 guished from that of the Carolina rail in form or structure, and is 

 generally placed in a similar location, with the exception that the 

 present species shows a greater preference for dense tufts of grass. 

 I have never seen more than nine eggs in a nest of this species. 



Genus Porzana Vieill. 



247. P. Carolina Cab. CAROLINA HAIL. Exceedingly abundant 

 summer resident in all marshy situations. Arrives the first of May 

 and departs in October. Nests along the borders of prairie sloughs 

 and marshes, depositing from eight to fourteen eggs. Their nest may 

 often be discovered at a distance by the appearance of the surrounding 

 grass, the blades of which are in many cases interwoven over the 

 nest, apparently to shield the 'bird from the fierce rays of the sun, 

 which are felt with redoubled force on the marshes. The nests are 

 sometimes built on a solitary tussock of grass, growing in the water, 

 but not often. The usual position is in the soft, dense grass growing 

 close to the edge of the slough, and rarely in grass over eight inches 

 high. T.he nest is a thick matted platform of solt marsh grasses, with 



