BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 107 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Space around the base of the bill extending downwards on 
the neck before and over the top of the head, black; under 
parts greenish-brown, with longitudinal bands of black, many 
feathers having narrow stripes of white on their edges; behind 
the eyes, side of the neck and breast, fine bluish-ashy, with 
circular spots and transverse bands of white on the breast; 
middle of abdomen and under tail coverts white; sides and 
flanks with transverse bands of brownish-black and white; bill 
greenish-yellow; legs dark green. 
Length, 8.50; wing, 4.25; tail, 2. 
Habitat, temperate America. 
PORZANA NOVEBORACENSIS (Gettin). (215.) 
YELLOW RAIL. 
I introduce this Rail with the satisfaction of having seen 
enough of them to regard them no longer as mere semi-occa- 
sional stragglers, but as rare summer residents. Mr. Shroeder, 
of St. Paul, for many years the only taxidermist in that city, 
had two specimens of them in 1865, and Mr. Howling of Min- 
neapolis, secured one in 1869, since which I have found two 
more in private collections. I have never seen one of them 
alive. I could not learn who obtained those in the collections 
of either of the taxidermists, but the others were secured by 
two hunters* who supposed they were ‘‘some new kind of 
snipe.” I know nothing of their local habits except that those 
referred to were obtained in the season when the other Rails 
were breeding. I hope to learn more about them in other 
localities in the State in due time. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Entire upper parts ochre-yellow, with longitudinal wide 
stripes of brownish-black, and transverse narrow stripes of 
white; neck and breast reddish-ochre-yellow, many feathers 
tipped with brown; middle of abdomen white; flanks and ven- 
tral region with wide transverse bands of dark reddish-brown 
and narrow bands of white; under tail coverts rufous, with 
small spots of white; under wing coverts white. 
Length, 6; wing, 3.25; tail, 1.75. 
Habitat, eastern North America. 
Notre. But one seen since the above was written ten years 
ago. 
* Jas. Smithson (since dead) and John R. Smith, of Lockport, N. Y. 
