88 



215. Porzana noveboracensis (Gmeliu). [575.] Yellow Bail. 



Winters in the Southern States and north to central Illinois; in 

 summer moves up the valley to Minnesota. Has been recorded from 

 Manitoba (Seton). Rather rare everywhere. In 1SS4 the only record 

 was from Saint Louis, where the first was seen March 18. 



In the spring of 1885 the Yellow Eail was seen at Fernwood, 111., 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 (Grnelin). [576.] Blade 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 18S1 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, Iowa., the last, October 11. 



218. Ionornis martinica (Linn.). [578.] Purjrfe 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 a not common species on the Nueces river 

 in Texas. 



219. Gallhiula 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, 111., 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, year Ripon, Wis., it outnumbers the Coot, and its breeding 

 habits until a few years ago could be studied to the best advantage, 

 but persecution lias made it wild, and now it hides at the slightest 

 sound. The only record of its arrival in 18S4: came from Saint Louis, 

 where it appeared May 11. 



In 18S5 but one record of the Florida Gallinule was received: its 

 arrival at Des Moines, Iowa, May 26. 



221. Fulica americana Ginelin. [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 1S81 were received from various 

 places, all the way from Eagle Pass and San Angelo, Tex., to Ossowa, 



