360 
ALECTORIDES. 
stripes (olivaceous, not dusky) very faint, or even sometimes quite obsolete ; the breast nearly or 
quite white centrally, with a very decided ash-gray wash across the jugulum. Specimens from 
Louisiana and Western Florida are quite different, being very darkly colored, the stripes above 
broad and distinct, dusky black on an ash-gray ground ; the breast decided cinnamon, lighter cen- 
trally. West Indian skins (of which there is a considerable number before us) are more like those 
first described above, but have the upper parts distinctly striped with deep olivaceous or raw- 
umber brown, the breast being colored about the same as in the Atlantic States specimens. It is 
exceedingly probable that the geographic import of these variations will be. confirmed by more 
extensive series, thus establishing, along with the true longirostris (— “ crassirostris” Lawr.), four 
well-marked “ climatic ” races, which may be defined as follows : — 
a. longirostris. Above, olive-gray, distinctly striped with vandyke-brown ; breast deep buff 
or pale cinnamon. Culmen, 1.90-2.10; least depth of bill, .35-.40 ; wing, 5.20-5.50; tarsus, 
1.75-1.85 ; middle toe, 1.75. Hub. Northern coast of South America (Cayenne to Bahia). 
R. longirostris. 
b. crepitans. Above, ash-gray, the stripes usually obsolete ; if distinct, light olivaceous, and 
not well defined ; breast buff, paler (usually whitish) centrally, and shaded with gray across 
the jugulum. Culmen, 2.10-2.50; least depth of bill, .22-28 ; tarsus, 1.85-2.10; middle toe, 
1.70-2.00. Hah. Salt-water marshes, Atlantic coast United States. 
c. caribaeus. Colors of longirostris. Culmen, 2.12-2.50 : least depth of bill, .25-30 ; tarsus, 
1.95-2.10 ; middle toe, 1.80-1.95. Hob. West Indies. 
cl. saturatus. Above, olive-gray or ashy broadly striped with brownish black ; breast dull 
cinnamon. Culmen, 2.10-2.45 ; least depth, of bill, .22-.28 ; tarsus, 1.95-2.00 ; middle toe, 1.75- 
1.80. Hah. Louisiana. 
The Clapper Rail of the South Atlantic and Gulf Region has a somewhat restricted 
range within the United States. It is confined to the sea-hoard, and is found only as 
far to the north as Long Island Sound, a few, according to Dr. Wood, breeding in 
Southern Connecticut, but rarely straggling farther north. Along the Atlantic and 
the Gulf coasts it is seen as far as the Mississippi, and probably beyond to Mexico ; 
but it is not given by Mr. Dresser as a bird of Texas, and I am not aware of any 
mention of it as having been noticed in Mexico or in Central America. It has not, 
so far as I am aware, been seen on the Pacific coast, nor anywhere in the interior, 
excepting that it is mentioned by Mr. Mcllwraith as having been found in the vicinity 
of Hamilton, Ontario ; but he probably mistook the Rallies elegans for it. It occurs in 
most of the West India Islands, breeding abundantly in Cuba, Jamaica, Santo Domingo, 
and other islands, but it is not mentioned as having been noticed in Bermuda. 
Professor Newton states that it is found in St. Croix, where it is very local, 
frequenting a large lagoon in the south of the island, and being there quite numerous 
and breeding. The birds were very noisy, especially in the evening ; and when a 
gun was fired near their haunts, their outcries could be heard on every side. They 
were very shy, and not easily shot, as, on being approached, they were seen running 
across the shallow water, or hopping from root to root of the mangroves, looking like 
