1889. | Scott, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida. I 53 
and Sumpter Counties it is abundant and conspicuous in favorable areas. 
The breeding season of course varies very considerably according to 
locality, the more northern representatives breeding in April. 
Where the birds occur and have not been greatly persecuted, they are 
very tame and unsuspicious, but in certain localities where they were 
once common they have been almost exterminated, being desirable for 
food. They were formerly abundant on the Ockiawaha and Withlacoo- 
chee Rivers and at Panasoftkee Lake, and at all of these points were resi- 
dent. In the vicinity of the coast and salt water the birds are, so far as I 
am aware, unknown, and the nearest points where I have found them 
have been at least twenty miles in the interior. 
Rallus elegans. KrinG Rait.—This Rail does not seem to be of unusual 
occurrence in the vicinity of Tarpon Springs, frequenting the reedy 
swamps of the fresh water ponds and streams, where it seems to occupy a 
position corresponding to that of the form of loxgtrostris in the salt 
marshes, though in not nearly so great numbers. Ihave several speci- 
mens from the upper waters of the Caloosahatchie River taken from No- 
vember to January. On August 5, 1886, and again on the roth of that 
month, I took young birds of the year in the first plumage. This was 
within a few miles of Tarpon Springs. 
Rallus longirostris crepitans. CLAPPER RaAiL.—The only typical spec- 
imens of this form that I have met with were a pair, mated and apparently 
breeding, that were taken by Mr. W.S. Dickinson at Anclote Keys, on 
May 19, 1887. These birds are now in my collection and are numbered 
4128 and 4129 respectively. The only large Rail so far taken on the 
island of Key West by Mr. J. W. Atkins is a female of this species, 
secured on December 24, 1888. It is number 3207 in my bird catalogue. 
Mr. Atkins thinks that Rails of all kinds are uncommon on the island in 
question. | 
Rallus longirostris scottii. Scotrt’s RaiLt.— This is by far the com- 
monest species of Rail in the vicinity of Tarpon Springs, and in fact on 
the Gulf Coast from Cedar Keys south to Charlotte Harbor, and it 
breeds throughout this range at least and probably to the north and 
south of the points indicated. 
They are confined, so far as I am aware, to the salt water marshes, and 
about Tarpon Springs are abundant the year around. They do not appear 
to be as retiring in their habits as are their congeners, and are frequently 
to be seen feeding at low tide on the exposed banks of mud and sand. At 
such times they are very tame and unsuspicious, and may be approached 
within a few feet. If alarmed, they run to the neighboring shelter of coarse 
grass of the salt water marsh, but presently return to feed, even though 
the intruder remains close at hand. Now and then one or two may be 
seen swimming some narrow arm of the bayou, and several times I have 
found pairs at least three or four hundred feet from shore,swimming 
about and apparently feeding on some small fish or crustacea. 
They begin to mate in February, and the breeding season is at its height 
by the first of April. The nesting habits do not materially differ from 
