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RALLUS ELEGANS (AuDUBoN). 
THE KING RAIL. 
Specific Character—Above yellowish olive or ochraceous drab very con- 3 
spicuously and sharply striped with black, crown dark brown; supra loral streak — 
of brownish white, continued to the occiput in a broader stripe of brownish gray ; — 
lores and sub-orbital region brownish gray or dull brownish, chin and throat 
white, remainder of head and neck including jugulum and breast, light cinnamon; 
flanks and sides dark brownish or blackish dusky barred with white, the white 
bars averaging about 10-15 of an inch in width, the interspaces more than 
twice as wide : ; crissum mixed dusky and white ; abdomen lighter than the breast ; 
back generally umber brown with darker stripes down the middle of each feather; 
lower mandible and edges of upper brownish yellow, ridge of upper and tips . | 
of both deep brown; iris, bright red; feet yellowish brown tinged with olive, 
claws of the same colour. Total length 17 inches. ae 
Habitat.—Fresh water marshes of the eastern States and southern Ontario. — 
This bird is considered by sportsmen generally as quite equal for the table 
to the Sora Rail, besides being much larger. It is not so plentiful, but has the — 
same habits, living in thick marshes and rarely taking to wing. It feeds on — 
insects, crayfish, tadpoles, seeds, ete. 
