54 



Another was taken at Wading River in April, 1901, by ]\Ir. 

 A. Hoffmann, and is now in the collection of ]\Ir. Ai'thur H. 

 Helme. A third specimen has recently been recorded, observed 

 at Orient (Braislin, Auk, xxiv, 1907, p. 187). 



109. Rallus elegans. King Rail. 



Probably rare summer resident. ]March 3 (Montauk Light, 

 Dutcher) to Nov. 2 (Bayport, Dutcher). Giraud refers to but 

 a single specimen known to him (Birds of L. I. p. 210) but Mr. 

 W. Dutcher records the occurrence of five other specimens 

 taken at various locahties. The latter remarks, "As it is like 

 all of the Rallidse, partly nocturnal and extremely secretive 

 in it habits it is probably overlooked and is more common than 

 it is thought to be" (Auk, v, 1888, pp. 176-177). This behef 

 is shared by the writer, as several instances, impossible of 

 absolute identification, however, are known to him of rails, 

 "larger and more brightly colored than the Clapper Rail," 

 having been secvu^ed at the autumnal rail-bird "shoots," which 

 are held at times of unusually high tides in certain parts of the 

 island. 



110. Rallus crepitans. Clapper Rail. 



Common summer resident and occasional during the remain- 

 der of the year; almost entirely confined, however, to the western 

 end of the island. The bird seems to reach its normal northern 

 limit at Long Island, for though repeatedly taken in the Con- 

 necticut marshes it is certainly rare there (Merriam, Birds of 

 Conn., 1877, p. 115) while it is accidental in Massachusetts 

 (Allen, Revised List of Birds of INIass., Bidl. Am. Miis. Nat. 

 Hist., i, 1886, p. 235). It arrives about the last of April; nests, 

 first week in June and continues abundant to September. Col- 

 lectors on the eastern end of the island have informed me that 

 they have not taken it east of Shinnecock, where it is very rare. 

 It abounds in the marshes of Jamaica and South Oyster Bays 

 and a large part of the Great South Bay. AYinter records 



