BALLID^ — BALLING : BAILS. 



673~ 



273. 



and Missouri at least. Winters in the South. . Inhabits preferably swamps and marshes 

 above tide-water. Nesting the same as crepitans; eggs not distinguishable. 



677. R. virgiuia'nus. VIRGINIA RAIL. Coloration exactly as in elec/ans, of which it is a perfect 

 miniature. Length 8.50-10.50; extent about 14.00; wing 4.00, always under 4.50; tail 

 1.50 ; biU 1.35-1.65 ; tarsus 1.35-1.50; middle toe and claw 1.50-1.75. Temperate N. Am., 

 chielly easteru U. S., migratory, abundant, both in fresh and salt marshes. Breeds commonlj 

 in New England ; winters in the S. States and beyond. Although a regular migrant along' 

 the Atlantic coast, it never occurs in such immense numbers as tlio Caroliua Rail. Eggs lilie 

 those of the foregoing in color, but much snraller, about 1.35 X 0.95. They agree in size nearly 

 with those of Porzana Carolina, but the latter are greenisli or drab, not huffy. 

 PORZA'NA. (Ital. porsana, Venetian name of P. maruetta.) Ckakes. BUI shorter or 

 n(jt longer than head, stout, liigh and compressed at base, tapering, obtuse ; nasal fossae ample. 

 Nostrils linear-oblong, near middle of bill. Otherwise generally as in Ballits ; hind toe longer. 

 Tarsus moderately shorter than middle toe and claw. Plumage of upper parts spotty as well 

 as strealiy. Small. Sexes alike. The 3 N. Am. species are very different (subgenerically j , 

 but Carolina closely resembles maruetta of Europe. 



Analysis of Species. 

 Small: length 8.00 or more. Face of adult blackish, the breast slate-gray. 



Bill orange, with red base. Breast spotted. (European.) maruetta 678 



Bill not orange, "without red base. Breast not spotted Carolina GTS 



Smaller: length about COO; wing over 3.00; yellowish-brown, barred with white . . noveb&racensis 680 

 Smallest: length about 5.50; wing scarcely 3.00; blackish, speckled with white and chestnut 



jama'icensis Cfel 



678. P. maruet'ta. (Pr. marouette, name of this species.) European Spotted Crake. ^ 9 , 

 adult : Above, dark rcd- 



dish-browu shaded witli 

 olive ; hind neci fine 

 ly dotted, other upper 

 parts spotted and short 

 ly striped with wliite, 

 and marked with black 

 ish. Below, slate-graj , 

 fading to whitisli on 

 belly, tlie breast spot 

 ted with wliite, tht 

 flanks barred witli 

 white, the crissum buft 

 Top and front of head, 

 and upper tliroat black 

 ish, tire cro^ATi streaked 

 with this color and dark 

 brown. Quills and tail 

 dark olive-brown. Iris 

 reddish - brown ; bill 

 orange, red at base , 

 logs yellowish-green, 



livid on the joints. Length about 8.50 ; wing 4.75; tail 3.00; bill 0.85 ; tarsus 1.45 ; middle 

 toe and claw 1.75. Youna 

 occurring in Greenland. 



679. P. caroli'na. (Fig. 466.) Carolina Crake. Common Rail. Sora. " Ortolan." Above 

 olive-brown, varied with black, with numerous sharp white streaks and specks ; flanks axillars 



43 ' 



Fig. 40G. — Carolina Rail. (From Lewis. ) 



lack the black face; chin whitish. Europe. Only N. Am. as 



