BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA 47 



decidedly posterior to laterofrontal antia, the mental antia about on 

 line or slightly anterior to proximal end of nostril. Wing short and 

 much rounded, the longest primaries exceeding distal secondaries by 

 a little less (R. limicola) to decidedly more than one-fourth {R. 

 elegans, R. aquaticvs) the length of wing; outermost primary much 

 longer than distal secondaries and about equal to seventh or eighth, 

 from outside, the second, second and third, or second, third, and 

 fourth (from outside) longest; proximal secondaries shorter than 

 longest primaries (nearly equal in R. aquaticus) . Tail less than half 

 as long as wing, the rectrices rather soft mostly hidden by the 

 coverts. Tarsus about one-third as long as wing, slightly shorter 

 (R. aquaticus) to slightly longer {R. elegans) or equal in length 

 (R. limicola) to middle toe without claw, the acrotarsium with a 

 continuous series of broad, transverse scutella, the rather broadly 

 rounded planta tarsi with a continuous posterior series of similar, but 

 smaller scutella; outer toe, with claw, falling slightly short of base 

 of claw of middle toe, that of inner toe reaching to about, or slightly 

 beyond, midde of subterminal phalanx of middle toe; hallux small, 

 its length (without claw) decidedly less than that of basal phalanx 

 of inner toe; claws rather small, slightly but distinctly curved 

 moderately acute to rather blunt. 



Plitmage and coloration. — Plumage of head and neck soft and 

 blended, rather short that of underparts fuller, rather loosely 

 webbed, that of back, scapulars, etc., harsher, the feathers more dis- 

 tinctly outlined. Upper parts olive or grayish, striped with darker; 

 breast, etc., plain slate-gray, rufescent, or buffy; flanks barred with 

 white. 



Range. — Palearctic, Indian, African, Nearctic, and Neotropical 

 regions, but absent from Arctic and sub- Arctic districts. (About 

 15 species.) 



KEY TO ADULTS OF THE NORTH AND MTODLE AMERICAN SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES 



OF RALLUS « 



o. Size larger ; wing over 120 mm. in length. 

 6. With the following combination of characters: Lesser upiwr wing coverts 

 russet to chestnut; edges of feathers of upperparts of body bufCy (not 

 ashy gray), washed with olive or brownish. 



c. Smaller, wing less than 155 mm Ballus elegans ramsdeni (p. 89) 



cc. Larger, wing over 155 mm Rallus elegans elegans (p. 83) 



&6. Lesser upper wing coverts olive-brown to olive-russet ; edges of feath- 

 ers of upperparts of body ashy gray washed with olive or brownish, 

 often very heavily so, but never with lively bufC tone." 



"Based on adults only. 



" This character is not very obvious but is one that grows on the observer 

 only after some study. There is no trenchant difference between the specie.s 

 elegans and longirostris. If the two did not occur together in a few places I 

 would certainly consider them one species. 



