284 The Water-fowl Family 



mark the limit of their stay in the north, though 

 a few remain until winter. The distribution of 

 this variety is extensive, from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific, and from Florida to southern Canada. 



SPOTTED CRAKE 

 (Porzana porzana) 



Adult male and female — Upper parts olive-brown, striped with 



black; broad line above eye, malar region, chin, and throat, 



uniform gray ; ear-coverts, neck, and chest, light hair brown, 



spotted with white. 

 Young — Similar, with the stripe above the eye spotted with white; 



malar regions, chin and throat, white, spotted with brown ; the 



breast and belly washed with pale buff. 

 Measurements — Length, 8.50 inches; wing, 4.33 inches; bill, .70 



inch; tarsus, 1.25 inches. 

 Eggs — Eight to twelve, dull buff, spotted with brown and purplish 



gray, measure 1.35 by .95 inch. 

 Habitat — Northern parts of the Old World ; occasional in Greenland. 



This species, common in various parts of 

 Europe, has been taken accidentally in Green- 

 land, and hence is included in the American 

 Check-list. It inhabits the dense vegetation of 

 marshes and the banks of streams and ponds, 

 placing its nest, loosely made from water-plants, 

 close to the water. Other names for this bird are 

 spotted rail, spotted water-hen, spotted gallinule, 

 and water rail. 



CAROLINA RAIL 

 {Porzana Carolina) 

 Adult male and female — Upper parts olive-brown spotted with 

 black, some of the feathers edged with white; top of head 

 marked with a broad black stripe ; head anteriorly with chin 



