166 SENNETT on the Clapper Rails. [April 
flanks dark gray, barred with white. Average size: bill, 2.34; wing, 5.75° 
tarsus, 1.90 inches. Hadctat.—Atlantic and North Gulf Coasts; casually 
in Florida and Texas. ; 
Rallus crepitans saturatus Hewshk. Bill slender, compressed, and 
decurved; upper parts mostly rich brown edged with almost pure olive 
(in one instance with grayish olive); under parts dark gray with cinna- 
mon breast. Average size: bill, 2.32; wing, 5.63; tarsus, 1.87 inches. 
Habitat.—Rigolets, close by Lake Pontchartrain, near New Orleans. 
Rallus obsoletus Azdg. Bill long, slightly decurved, quite strong, and 
not compressed at base; color above grayish olive, sometimes olive, nar- 
rowly and sharply striped with very dark brown; under parts rich cinna- 
mon; axillars and flanks grayish brown, barred with white. Average size: 
bill, 2.40; wing, 6.30; tarsus, 2.10 inches. Habztat.—Pacific Coast. 
Rallus scottii Sev. Bill slender, decurved, and compressed; upper 
parts sooty brown or black edged slightly with olive gray; under parts 
dark ashy gray mixed more or less with cinnamon; axillars and flanks 
slate color, barred distinctly with white. Average size: bill, 2.32; wing, 
5-60; tarsus, 1.85 inches. Aabztat. — West Coast of Florida (Tarpon 
Springs and Charlotte Harbor). 
COMMENT. 
I think I have a greater number of specimens of this group of 
Rails than has heretofore been brought together, and I have spent 
much time during a year and a half past in studying and examin- 
ing them. Boddaert’s description of longzrostrzs and Bufton’s 
plate of the same agree with all the birds that have been received 
in England and the United States from the Atlantic Coast of 
South America, and do not apply to any other birds. The bill of Zon- 
gtrostris differs not only in size but in shape from that of North 
American forms ; instead of being compressed the lower mandible 
is broad and square where it joins the head, its greatest width 
being at the lower edge of the base. Moreover, it is very stout 
and straight, and notwithstanding its name, its bill is the short- 
est of any of the large Rails. Taking into account this peculiarly 
shaped bill, and also the color of the bird, I do not understand 
why Gmelin’s New York crefztans should not at all times have 
been acknowledged as a distinct species. 
I am indebted for generous loans of specimens to the National 
Museum, Washington; the American Museum, New York; Mr. 
W.E.D. Scott, Tarpon Springs, Fla.; Mr. H. W. Henshaw, 
Washington; Messrs. Salvin and Godman, London; Mr. Wm. 
Brewster, Cambridge; Mr. C. B. Cory, Boston; Dr. B. H. 
Warren, West Chester, Pa., to all of whom I express my sincere 
thanks. 
