340 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 
partial to dense cover, and frequents both salt and fresh- 
water marshes, but it is only found in the former places 
early in the summer and autumn. 
The sora, ortolan, or Carolina rail (Porzana carolina), 
is the best known of the Railide, and the one most gen- 
erally shot, those previously mentioned being pursued 
but very little, owing to the comparative coarseness of 
their flesh, and their want of game qualities. This spe- 
cies is olive-brown above, variegated with black and nu- 
merous white spots and streaks; the flanks are varied 
with black and white; the face and central line of the 
throat are black; and the remainder of the throat, the 
breast, and the line over the eyes are bluish-gray. The 
yellow-breasted rail (P. noveboracensis) is such an exceed- 
ingly secluded bird that it is rarely shot. The breast is 
yellowish; the flanks are dark and barred with white; 
the upper portions are varied with black and yellowish- 
brown, and marked with white semi-circles and transverse 
bars. The Florida gallinule (Gallinula galeata) is an in- 
habitant of the Gulf States, where it is exceedingly abun- 
dant. It can be seen in solid phalanxes along the Indian 
River in Florida, and in the southern portion of the 
State. Its back is brownish-olive; its head, neck, and 
under parts are grayish-black; the wings and tail are 
dusky, but the edges of the wings are white; and the bill 
is red, tipped with yellow. An adult is about fifteen 
inches in length. The purple gallinule (Porphyrio mar- 
tinica), which is most abundant in the Southwestern 
States, is a handsome bird, its head, neck, and under 
parts being purplish-blue, and the upper olive-green; the 
bill is red with a yellow tip; and the legs are yellowish. 
The head, neck, and the lower part of the back of the 
young are brownish, and the under parts whitish. The 
coot, or sea-crow (Hulica americana), has widely lobed 
feet like the phalaropes, so that it is more at home on the 
water than on the land. It frequents fresh waters, and 
