108 NOTES ON THE 
PORZANA JAMAICENSIS (GME tin). (216.) 
BLACK RAIL. 
I record this southern species entirely upon a report that one 
individual was taken last year in Fillmore county. Its descrip- 
tion was so well given that, without seeing the specimen, which 
was taken to some eastern collection before I had an opportu- 
nity to examine it, I believe there can be no reasonable doubt 
of its identity. Besides, it is amatter of record that it has been 
obtained in Wisconsin several times, a good many years since. 
(Birds of the N. W., Coues. ) 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Smaller than the Sora, or any other North American Rail. 
Head and entire under parts bluish-ash, or nearly slate color; 
darker and nearly black on top of head; abdomen and under 
tail coverts with transverse bands of white; neck behind and 
upper part of back dark reddish-chestnut; other upper parts 
brownish-black with circular spots and irregular transverse 
stripes of white; quills brownish-black, with small spots of 
white; tail nearly same colors. 
Length, 5; wing, 3.25; tail, 1.50. 
Habitat, middle and southern states. L.Bake 
GALLINULA GALEATA (LicHTENSTEIN). (219.) 
FLORIDA GALLINULE. 
This is another species which I found in the hands of Mr. 
Shroeder as long ago as 1865. Since then I have had ample 
opportunity to decide that although not common, it is a regular 
summer resident, breeding in the Minnesota River bottoms at 
Big Stone lake, and along the Red river. 
It has been seen very rarely earlier than in June, when they 
were unquestionably breeding, although in one or two instances 
it has been observed in April, thereby showing that it migrates 
in all probability as early as the Rails do, and possibly the 
principal ducks. One nest obtained by a gentleman residing 
at Fort Wayne, Indiana, (Mr. George), and brought in with the 
bird, was constructed entirely of reeds, which constituted but 
the upper portion of amass that had been built up out of the 
water. Itcontained ten eggs of a light brown color, spattered 
and splotched with reddish-brown, more marked about the 
larger end. Other nests have been described to me as having 
