4 



E * OOLOGIS 



lfr£r 



Vol. V, 



ALBION, N. ¥., JUNE, 1888. 



No. 6 



The Family Rallidae in Michigan. 

 Written for Vie OohgUt. 



BY "SCOLOPAX. ' 



This family is represented by seven 

 species iu our state, viz: Clapper, King, 

 Virginia, Carolina, and YellowRails,the Flori- 

 da Gallinule and American Coot. Four of 

 these species are extremely common, breed- 

 ing in abundance in many parts of the 

 state, while the Clapper is only entitled to 

 the name of straggler, and the Yellow 

 Rail is extremely rare. The King Rail is 

 not rare in certain parts of the state and 

 during migration is often taken inland. * f 



Rallus longirostris crepitans, (Gmel.) 

 Clapper Rail; Salt Water Marsh Hen. 

 This is a rare straggler, seldom if ever 

 seen in center of the state, but probably 

 oftener found around the great lake 

 marshes. Recorded but few times, and 

 absolute proof of capture evidenced in only 

 three instances. 



Ralltjs elegans. Audubon; 

 King Rail ; Fresh Water Marsh Hen . 

 Not infrequently taken in the interior 

 of the state during migrations. Rarely 

 taken in many of the southern counties 

 during summer. Breeds along the marshes 

 of St. Clair Lake, River and tributaries. 

 Builds a bulky nest of flags and grass, in 

 which it. deposits eight to twelve eggs. 

 Arrives during first two weeks of April and 

 departs in late September or October. 



Rallus virginianus. Linn, 

 Virginia Rail. 

 An abundant species, only exceeded by 

 the following in abundance. It arrives in 

 the latter part of April, and is so sudden in 



* Covert, in Ms " Birds of Washtenaw Co.," 

 Mien., says: " Black Rail, one specimen only 

 has fallen under my notice from this county, 

 this specimen was brought me June 4, 1880." 



t G. A Stockweh, in Forest and Stream VIII, 

 22, 361, says : Accidental visitor in Michigan," 

 Purple Gallinule.— These records, if they can be 

 called so, have never been verified, hence they 

 are presented here as foot notes merely, s. 



its appearance as to cause much wonder- 

 ment to one interested in bird migration. 

 The writer has studiously watched for their 

 appearance in spring and is still unable to 

 say whether they drop down upon us dur* 

 ing cloudy or clear nights. That they do 

 travel by night entirely in migrating is well 

 proven. The flight of this bird is feeble, 

 a-' is the case of all the members of this 

 family, and from this reason it is fair to 

 judge that the period of migration is long 

 with these short pinioned birds 



This species is more upland in its habits 

 than any of its congeners, and nests, even 

 in fields, that had once been cultivated have 

 greeted the writer on some of his collecting 

 trips. The structure is nearly always 

 placed directly on the ground, if in dry 

 quarters, but is often elevated quite a foot 

 above the surface if it is very wet in the 

 vicinity. This rail is not often so foolish 

 as the Sora, in placing its nest where it will 

 be subjected to the bad effects of inunda- 

 tions. The bird is more often found breed- 

 ing in low meadows, although they feed in 

 situations frequented by the next. 



The eggs are found, fresh and in com- 

 plete sets by May 22, but rarely earlier, 

 and from this date to July last, sets can be 

 found in suitable localities. The latest 

 taking of a fresh set of eggs in Michigan, 

 is, I believe, August fourth. It appears to 

 me that so late a date must have resulted 

 from repeated spoliations of the previous 

 sets. It is hardly probable that the rails 

 rear, or attempt to rear two or more broods in 

 season if alio wed to nest undisturbed. Six, 

 seven, eight, nine eggs are complements, 

 the writer has found, and never but once 

 the latter number, seven being the usual 

 set. This pretty pink-billed species has 

 about left our southern borders by Octo- 

 ber tenth. 



Porzana Carolina, (Linn. ) 

 Carolina Rail; SoraR ail. 



An abundant species found in both pen- 

 insulas. Breeds plentifully around lakes 



