DESCRIPTIVE LIST 113 



93. Creciscus jamaicensis (Gmel.}. BLACK RAIL. 



Ads. Head, breast and upper belly slate-color; lower belly and wings brownish black, barred 

 or spotted with white; nape dark reddish brown. L., 5.00; W., 2.80; Tar., .80; B., .60. (Chap., 

 Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Eastern North America breeding from South Carolina to Canada, and wintering 

 through the Gulf States to Jamaica and Guatemala. 



Range in North Carolina. -Nearly the whole State, apparently only in summer. 



The Black Rail, the smallest member of the rail family in the United States, is 

 one of those secretive creatures the comparative abundance of which is difficult to 

 determine. It probably is a regular summer resident in the State. 



Near Raleigh, along the course of Walnut Creek, are numerous patches of 

 meadow-land, some of which are annually cut for hay. It is here and principally 

 on these occasions that the Black Rails have been brought to our attention. From 

 1890 to 1902 eight nests with eggs were secured by H. H. and C. S. Brimley from 

 the negro mowers. 



FIG. 75. BLACK RAIL. 



Small in size, inhabiting the thick meadow-growth, and virtually never taking 

 wing when disturbed, it is as hard to find as a ground-loving mouse. 



The eight sets of eggs secured at Raleigh were taken at dates varying from May 

 27 to July 12. Fresh eggs were found as late as June 28 and eggs far gone in incu- 

 bation as early as June 8. The number seems to vary from six to eight. 



Other North Carolina records are as follows: Statesville, found breeding by 

 McLaughlin; Jamestown, Guilford County, one adult and two downy young taken 

 by Pearson in June, 1893; Lake Ellis, one seen early in October, 1909, by H. H. 

 Brimley. 



Genus lonornis (Reichenb.) 



94. lonornis martinicus (Linn.}. PURPLE GALLINULE. 



Ad. Front of crown with a bare, bluish-plumbeous plate; rest of head and underparts rich, 

 dark, purplish blue; under tail-coverts white; back shining olive-green; wings light blue tinged 

 with greenish; bill carmine, tipped with pale greenish (in skins, reddish orange, tipped with 

 yellowish); legs yellow. Im. -Upperparts more or less washed with brownish; underparts 

 more or loss mottled with white; plate on the head smaller; bill without orange-red. Downy 

 young. Glossy black, head with numerous white, hair like feathers; base of the bill yellowish, 

 end black. L., 13.00; W., 7.10; Tar., 2.40; B., from posterior margin of nostril, .80. (Chap., 

 Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Breeds from South Carolina southward to Paraguay; winters from the Gulf States 

 southward. 



Range in North Carolina. Only occasional; so far only recorded from Craven and Wake 

 counties. 



