672 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS— ALECTORIDES—BALLIFOBMES. 
673. R. longiros'tris cre'pitans. (Lat. longirostris, long-billed. Lat. crepitans, crepitating, 
clattering. Fig. 465.) Clapper Rail. Salt-water Marsh-hen. Mud-hen. (^9, adult: 
Above, variegated with darlv olive-brown and pale olive-ash, the latter edging the feathers. 
mostly soiled whitish below; when just from the egg entirely sooty black. Length 14.00- 
16.00; extent about 20.00; wing 5.00-6.00; tail 2.00-2.50 ; biU 2.00-2.50; tarsus 1.67-2.00 ; 
middle toe and claw 2.00-2.33. 9 smaller than the ^. Salt marshes of Atlantic States, ex- 
tremely abundant southerly ; N. regularly to the middle districts, sometimes to Massachusetts. 
Resident from the Carolinas southward. Breeds in profusion in the marshes of the Carolinas, 
etc., where its clattering is almost incessant during the mating season. Nest a rude platform 
of reeds and grasses just out of the water on the ground. Eggs 6 to 12, averaging 1.67 X 1.12, 
M^iitish, creamy, or buflf, variously speckled and blotched with reddish-brown, with a hw 
obscure lavender marks. 
674. R. 1. obsole'tus. (Lat. ohsoletus, obsolete ; referring to the markings of the upper parts in 
comparison with those of B. elegans.) California Clapper Rail. Back and scapulars 
grayish-olive, indistinctly striped with dusky ; breast deep cinnamon. General aspect of the 
last, but quite reddish below. Wing 6.50; bill 2.25-2.50, its least depth 0.33; tarsus 2.10- 
2.25. Salt marshes of the California coast. 
675. R. 1. satura'tus. (Lat. saturatus, saturated, satiated, i.e. dark-colored.) Louisiana 
Clapper Rail. In general similar to crepitans; above, olive-gray or ashy, broadly striped 
with brownish -black ; breast dull cinnamon. ^'Louisiana." 
676. R. e'legans. (Lat. elegans, choice.) King Rail. Fresh-water Marsh-hen. With 
a general resemblance to crepitans, but larger and nmch more brightly colored. Adult ^ 9 '• 
Above, distinctly streaked with brownish -black and tawny-olive, the darker color being the 
central field of each feather ; becoming rich chestnut on the wing-coverts, and plain dark brown 
on the hind-neck and top of head. Below, rich rufous or cinnamon-red, brightest on breast, 
fading on throat and belly ; a line of the same over the eye, and dusky line through eye ; lower 
eyelid white. Flanks and lining of wings blackish, broadly and distinctly barred with white; 
some of the crissal feathers similar. Specimens vary much in the richness of the lints and 
distinctness of the markings, but the reddish and streaky tone is always quite different from 
the dull blended colors of crepitans. Length 17-00-19.00; extent 23.00-25.00; wing 6.00- 
7.00 ; bill 2.10-2.50; tarsus 2.30; middle toe and claw about the same. U. S., rather south- 
erly, Texas to the Middle States regularly, to Connecticut casually ; in the interior to Kansas 
Fig. 465. — Clapper Kail, reduced. (Altered from Lewis.) 
the variegation dull and 
blended. Below, pale dull 
ochrey-brown, whitening 
on the throat, frequently 
ashy-shaded on the breast, 
without decided cinnamon- 
brown shade. Flanks, ax- 
illars, and lining of wings, 
fuscous-gray, with sharp 
narrow white bars. Quills 
and tail plain dark-brown, 
without ^chestnut on the 
coverts. Eyelids and short 
superciliary line whitish. 
The general tone is that 
of a gruT/ bird, without 
any reddishness. Young 
