RALLrn.f:— TFrK rails, OALLrNULES, ANT) rOOTS. 93 



We have not at hand the re(^uired material fur defining the 

 exact Hmits of the genus Porznna, so fai' as its American rej)re- 

 sentatives are eoucerued. Without, therefore, eonsitlering any 

 of the extralimital species, it may suffice to say that of the 

 three which occur in North America, one (/-*. Carolina) is a very 

 near relative of the type of the genus {P. porzana of Europe), 

 while the other two are perhaps sufficiently different to justify 

 generic separation. The three species wlii(;h occur in eastern 

 North America may be distinguished as follows: 



A. Above russet-olive, with black blotches and irregular, partly longiludinal, streaks of 



white. (Porzana.) 



1. P. Carolina. Neck and breast without white specks; throat blackish, and sides of 



head and neck plumbeous in adult; throat white, sides of head and neck, with 

 chest and breast, fulvous-olive, in young; flanks broadly barred with white and 

 slate-color. Wing, 4.15-4.30; culmen, .Vy-M\ tarsus, 1.25-1.:^5; middle toe, 1.30- 

 1.45. Hah. North and Middle America. 



B. Above oehraceous, with broad black stripes and narrow transverse white bars; sec- 



ondaries white, forming a conspicuous patch on the extended wing. {Cotnrni- 

 cops.) 



2. P. noveboracensis. Head, neck, and breast ochracoous; flanks dusky, barred with 



whitish; crissum cinnamon; lining of wing and axillars white. Wing, 3.00-3.60; 

 culmen, .50-.60; tarsus, .95-1.00; middle toe, .90-1.00. Hnb. North America. 



C. Above blackish brown, speckled with white. (.Creciscus.) 



3. P. jamaicensis. Nape dusky chestnut or sepia-brown; lower parts slate-color or 



dark plumbeous (the throat sometimes whitish), the posterior portions narrowly 

 barred with white. Wing, 2.50-3.20; culmen, .50-. 60; tarsus. .75-90; middle toe, 

 .85-,95. Bab. Temperate and tropical America. 



Porzana Carolina (Linn.) 



SORA. 



Popular synonyms. Sora Rail; Carolina Rail; Common Rail; Ortolan (Potomac River). 

 Balbis carolinus Linn. S. N. ed. 10, i, 1758. 153; ed. 12, i, 1766, 263.— Sw. & Rich. F. B.-A. 



ii, ISU. 403.— AuD. Orn. Biog. iii. 18X5. 2.51; v. 183H. 572. pi. 23:5. 

 Jiallfis iCrex) carolinus Bonap. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 230.— Nutt. Man. ii, 1831, 209. 

 Orlvgometra Carolina Bonap. List, 1838. 53.— AUD. Synop. 1839, 213; B. Am. v, 1842, 145, 



pi. 306. 

 Porzana Carolina Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1S5.S, 749.— Baird, Cat. N. .\m. B. No. 



555.— CouES, Key. 1872. 273; Check List, 1873. No. 468; 2d ed. 1SS2. No. v>70\ Birds 



N. W. 1874, 538.— RiDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881. No. 574; Man. N. Am. B.. 1887. 139.— 



A. O. U.. Check List. 1886, No. 214. 



Hab. The whole of temperate North America, but most common in the Eastern Prov- 

 ince r West Indies in general; whole of Middle America, south to Colombia and Venezuela: 

 accidental in Greenland and Europe; Bermudas (numerous in migrations). Breeds chiefly 

 In the northern partw of its range. 



