RALLIB^— BALLING: BAILS. 
673 
and Missouri at least. Winters in the South. Inhabits preferably swamps and marshes 
above tide-water. Nesting the same as crepitans; eggs not distinguishable. 
677. R. virginia'nus. VIRGINIA Rail. Coloration exactly as in elegans, of which it is a perfect 
miniature. Length 8.50-10.50; extent about 14.00; wing 4.00, always under 4.50; tail 
1.50; bill 1.35-1.65 ; tarsus 1.25-1.50; middle toe and claw 1.50-1.75. Temperate N. Am., 
chiefly eastern U. S., migratory, abundant, both in fresh and salt marshes. Breeds commonly 
in New England ; winters in the S. States and beyond. Although a regular migrant along 
the Atlantic coast, it never occurs in such immense numbers as the Carolina Rail. Eggs lik(? 
those of the foregoing in color, but much smaller, about 1.25 X 0.95. They agree in size nearly 
with those of Porzana Carolina, but the latter are greenish or drab, not buffy. 
272. PORZA'NA. (Ital. porzana, Venetian name of P. maruetta.) Crakes. Bill shorter or 
not longer than head, stout, high and compressed at base, tapering, obtuse ; nasal fossae ample. 
Nostrils linear-oblong, near middle of bill. Otherwise generally as in Ballus ; hind toe longer. 
Tarsus moderately shorter than middle toe and claw. Plumage of upper parts spotty as weU 
as streaky. Small. Sexes alike. The 3 N. Am. species are very different (subgenerically), 
but Carolina closely resembles maruetta of Europe. 
Analysis of Species. 
Small: length 8.00 or more. Face of adult blackish, the breast slate-gray. 
Bill orange, with red base. Breast spotted. (European.) maruetta 678 
Bill not orange, without red base. Breast not spotted Carolina 679 
Smaller: length about 6.00; wing over 3.00 ; yellowish-brown, barred with white . . novehoracensis 680 
Smallest: length about 5.50; wing scarcely 3.00; blackish, speckled with white and chestnut 
jama'icensis 681 
678. P. maruet'ta. (Fr. marouette, name of this species.) European Spotted Crake. ^ 9 , 
adult : Above, dark red- 
dish-brown shaded with 
olive ; hind neck fine- 
ly dotted, other upper 
parts spotted and short- 
ly striped with white, 
and marked with black- 
ish. Below, slate-gray, 
fading to whitish on 
belly, the breast spot- 
ted with white, the 
flanks barred with 
white, the crissum buff. 
Top and front of head, 
and upper throat black- 
ish, the crown streaked 
with this color and dark 
brown. Quills and tail 
dark olive- brown. Iris 
reddish - brown ; bill 
orange, red at base ; 
legs yellowish-green, 
livid on the joints. Length about 8.50; wing 4.75 ; tail 2.00; bill 0.85 ; tarsus 1.45 ; middle 
toe and claw 1.75. Young lack the black face; chin whitish. Europe. Only N. Am. as 
occurring in G-reenland. 
679. P. caroli'na. (Fig. 466.) Carolina Crake. Common Rail. Sora. " Ortolan." Above, 
olive-brown, varied with black, with numerous sharp white streaks and specks ; flanks, axillars 
43 
Fig. 466. — Carolina Rail. (From Lewis.) 
