CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. I4I 



of this species on June 9th, 1894. The nests were near th* water 

 and constructed of dead Carex leaves. The eggs ranged in 

 number from nine to sixteen and were but slightly incubated. 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Three ; two taken in Toronto marsh, by Mr. S. Herring ; and 

 the other at Ottawa by Mr. W. P. Lett, in 1887. A fine series 

 of eggs taken at Crane Lake, Assa., and Edmonton, Alberta. 



216. Yellow Rail. 



Porzana noveboracensis (Gmel.) Baird. 1845. 



Rare in autumn in Nova Scotia. {Downs.') A rare autumn 

 visitor in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) Rare migrant in 

 Quebec. {Dionne.) A rare migrant in Ontario ; occasionally 

 taken in Toronto marsh. {Mcllwraith.) Of late years this bird 

 has been taken at Toronto, Ont., every year and must occur 

 more commonly than is supposed. {J.H.Fleming.) 



This species seems to be a far from rare summer resident in 

 Manitoba. Ernest Seton-Thompson in his Birds of Manitoba, 

 gives many instances of its occurence and the writer's own obser- 

 vations agree with his expressed opinions. A small Rail that 

 seemed to jump out of the sedge, with legs hanging down, and 

 just as suddenly drop again has been observed as far west as 

 Moose Jaw, but in no case was a specimen obtained. 



The following ig Hutchin's manuscript notice of the bird 

 written in 1777. "This elegant bird is an inhabitant of the 

 marshes on the coast of Hudson Bay near the eflux of the Severn 

 River, about 150 miles south of York Factory, from the middle 

 of May to the end of September. It never flies above sixty 

 yards at a time, but runs with great rapidity among the long grass 

 near the shores. In the morning and evening it utters a note 

 which resembles the striking of a flint and steel ; at other times 

 it makes a shrieking noise. It builds no nest but lays from ten 

 to sixteen perfectly white eggs among the grass." 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Two specimens, both taken in Toronto marsh by Mr. S. Her- 

 ring. 



