1889.] SENNETT? on the Clapper Rails. 163 
but that any ornithologist familiar with Rails would readily 
select three distinct and well marked species, crepztans, obsoletus, 
and scottzz, all of which are different from the true /ongdrostrds 
of South America. Of this promiscuous collection a few might 
not so easily be determined, but are apparently divisible into 
three forms ; one form is pale in color and is like true dongtrostris 
except that the bill, instead of being short and thick, is long and 
slender ; the labels show that this form comes from the West Indies 
and Texas and is the subspecies carzb@us of Ridgway. Another 
form is browner than cvepzfaxs, but not sooty or black like scotézz ; 
only three of these were taken in one locality in Louisiana in 1869 
and were named by Mr. Henshaw in 1880 Rallus longirostris 
saturatus. Since the capture of these three brown birds by Mr. 
Henshaw, no large Rails other than crepztans have been taken 
along the whole northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The third 
form is from the Bahamas, with a bill short and straight which 
in stoutness is about midway between carzb@us and longtrostris. 
In color the faded and worn plumage of the only two specimens 
thus far taken is lighter than that of any Rail I have yet seen. 
The type was taken on a Key south of Andros Island, and was 
named Radlus cory¢ by Mr. C. J. Maynard, in ‘Am. Ex. & Mart.,’ 
Boston, January and February, 1887. Another bird which Mr. 
Cory says is just like the type, has been taken in the Bahamas. 
It remains to be seen whether this can be established as a well de- 
fined race; it varies from true longtrostrts less than any other 
form now known, and it seems to me can only be classed as a 
variety of Rallus longirostris. 
It-now appears that the conditions warrant a revision of the 
North American Clapper Rails. As the result of my investiga- 
tions I here present the names of the various species and varieties, 
together with my reasons for such classification. 
Feallus crepitans. Restored to the rank of species as being 
the common Atlantic and Gulf Coast form, being both by bill 
and coloration distinct from true Jozgtrostrzs, which has thus far 
been found only on the Atlantic coast of South America. 
Rallus longirostris cartbeus. In color these birds are like 
Lf. longirostris ; the structure of the bill is however very differ- 
ent, since it is very long, very slender, and decidedly decurved. 
Five specimens were examined from the West Indies, and it 
seems to be the form most generally found there. 
