KING RAIL. 



RED-BREASTED RAIL. FRESHWATER MARSH HEN. 

 Rallus ELEGANS. 



Char. Upper parts rich olive brown of varying shades, — sometimes 

 with a yellow tinge, — striped with black ; crown dark brown ; a line of 

 cinnamon over the eyes, and a line of dusky through the eyes ; wings brown, 

 of varying shades ; under parts deep cinnamon, darkest on the breast, fad- 

 ing to dull white on throat and belly ; sides and flanks brown or dusky, 

 with broad stripes of white. Length 17 to 19 inches. 



Nest. Hid amid a tuft of rank grass in a fresh-water marsh ; placed on 

 the ground, though sometimes fastened to the grass and weeds that sur- 

 round it ; made of grass and weed stems. 



Eggs. 6-12 ; ground color varies from pale buff to creamy white, 

 marked, sparingly, with reddish brown or purplish brown and lilac ; size 

 variable, average about 1.70 X 1.20. 



