18 



BULLETIN 128, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 



CALIFORNIA CLAPPER RAIL. Rallus obsoletus Ridgwav. 



The California clapper rail has a very restricted range. It remains 

 throughout the year in the salt marshes near the mouth of the Sacra- 

 mento Kiver, from Petaluma (Xewberry) on the north to Palo Alto 

 (McGregor) on the south. The species was very abundant in these 

 marshes until about 1890, but it has decreased decidedly in numbers 

 and is now rather rare, though several specimens were obtained 

 October 18-30, 1909, at Redwood (Thayer). Eggs have been taken 

 at Haywards, April 18, 1885 (Emerson); at San Mateo, April 24, 

 1879 (Bryant); and at Palo Alto, May 1, 1899 (Thayer). 



Fig. 6.— Belding rail (Rallus beldingi). 



LIGHT-FOOTED RAIL. Rallus levipes Bangs. 



The light-footed rail is a nonmigratory species occurring along the 

 Pacific coast from Santa Barbara, Cal. (Henshaw), south to San 

 Quintin Bay, Lower California. It is most common on the coast of 

 Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. A specimen was taken August 

 25, 1902, at Yuma, Ariz. (Brown). 



Eggs have been secured at Ballona, Cal., May 16, 1894 (Judson); 

 Xigger Slough, Los Angeles County, Cal., May 29, 1906 (Willett); 

 San Diego, Cal., April 16, 1895, and April S-10, 1900 (Thayer); and 

 at San Quintin Bay, Lower California, April 27, 1910 (Howell). 



