88 
215. Porzana noveboracensis (Gmelin). [575.] Yellow Raitt. 
Winters in the Southern States and north to central Lllinois; in 
summer moves up the valley to Minnesota. Has been recorded from 
Manitoba (Seton). Rather rare everywhere. In 1884 the only record 
was from Saint Louis, where the first was seen March 18. 
In the spring of 1885 the Yellow Rail was seen at Fernwood, Ill, May 
9, and was common the next day. It reached Elk River, Minn., May 
14. <A single specimen was seen at White Earth, Minn., in the latter 
part of June, but the exact date was mislaid. Specimens were taken 
at Lawrence, Kans., April 18, and October 1, 1885, by Prof. L. L. Dyche, 
and it was taken at Emporia, Kans., October 1. 
216. Porzana jamaicensis (Gmelin). [576.] Black Rail. 
Range much the same as that of the preceding, though it does not 
occur so far north; has been taken in Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, 
Iowa, and Illinois. In 1884 it was reported as breeding at San Angelo, 
Tex., from March 9 to June 26. 
In 1885 the northward migration of the Black Rail was unnoticed by 
the observers, but on its return the first was seen at Emporia, Kans., 
September 26, and at Iowa City, lowa., the last, October 11. 
218. Ionornis martinica (Linn.). [578.] Purple Gallinule. 
A southern species, occurring throughout the Gulf States and rang- 
ing north in summer to Illinois, It has been taken once at Saint 
Louis, Mo.,and was given as anot common species on the Nueces river 
in Texas. 
219. Gallinula galeata (Licht.). [579.] Florida Gallinule. 
The Florida Gallinule breeds from the Gulf of Mexico to near our 
northern border. Its winter range includes all of the Southern States, 
where it is resident; and it occurs, according to Ridgway, up to central 
Illinois, but Mr. C. W. Butler, of Anna, IIl., says: “‘I have not found 
it in winter in fourteen years of collecting in the very places where Mr. 
Ridgway says it occurs.” In its migrations it proceeds northward to 
Minnesota and Wisconsin in the East, and Kansas and Nebraska in the 
West. Near Ripon, Wis., it outnumbers the Coot, and its breeding 
habits until a few years ago could be studied to the best advantage, 
but persecution has made it wild, and now it hides at the slightest 
sound. The only record of its arrival in 1884 came from Saint Louis, 
where it appeared May 11. 
In 1885 but one record of the Florida Gallinule was received: its 
arrival at Des Moines, Iowa, May 26. 
221. Fulica americana Gmelin. [580.] Coot. 
Range in winter the same as that of the Florida Gallinule, but in 
summer it goes far into British America. It breeds throughout its 
range, and records of breeding in 1884 were received from various 
places, all the way from Eagle Pass and San Angelo, Tex., to Ossowa, 
