134 



BULLETIN 5 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



exceeding distal secondaries by about one-third the length of wing, 

 but extending little beyond tips of elongated proximal secondaries. 

 Tail about half as long as wing, much rounded or slightly graduated, 

 the middle rectrices tapering distally and subacuminate at tips, pro- 

 jecting considerably beyond upper and slightly beyond lower coverts. 

 Tarsus a little shorter than middle toe without claw, the acrotarsium 

 with a single row of broad, transverse scutella, the planta tarsi with 

 a single row of similar scutella on each side, the two of opposite sides 

 in alternating or interdigitating contact along or inside of the rounded 

 posterior ridge ; outer toe with claw reaching about to base of middle 

 claw, or falling very slightly short, the inner toe, without claw, reach- 

 ing to or very slightly beyond penultimate articulation of middle toe ; 



Figure 9. — Porzana Carolina. Natural size. 



hallux, without claw, about as long as basal phalanx of outer toe; 

 claws moderate in size, distinctly curved, acute, compressed. 



Plumage and coloration. — Plumage rather full and firm, that on 

 head, neck, and anterior underparts blended; primaries firm and 

 rather rigid, the rectrices much softer. Upper parts blackish, olive, 

 or olive-brown, the back and scapulars spotted or striped with black 

 and streaked with white ; flanks broadly barred with white and dusky 

 brownish gray or grayish olive, the axillars and under wing coverts 

 also barred with white; under tail coverts (at least the longer ones) 

 plain buff or buffy white. 



[The following description is for the subgenus Sapalocrex only (ex Ridgway, 



mss.)-] 



Very small Rallinae (wing about 68-115 mm.) with longest feather 

 of alula falling short of tips of longest primary coverts ; bill nearly 

 as long as head; very long toes (the combined lengths of first two 



