RALLIDiE — THE RAILS — PORZANA. 
377 
times lie could approach it within a few yards, when it would only rise more erect, gaze 
at him for a moment, and then resume its occupation. He was told that the best way 
to obtain a shot at this bird is to lie concealed near an opening, and call it out of cover 
by imitating its notes ; when, being very pugnacious, it comes to the open space and is 
easily shot. Its flesh is said to be delicate and savory. Its flight is described as being 
swift, and more protracted than that of most of the Rails. 
Mr. Audubon describes the nest of this bird as being similar to that of Rallus 
elegans ; but as he mentions that the eggs are white, and that the nest resembles that 
of the Common Quail, we cannot receive his account as altogether reliable. 
Dr. James Trudeau, as quoted by Mr. Audubon, states that this Rail winters in 
the Southern States, arriving in Louisiana about the end of October or the beginning 
of November, and that it is common in marshes in the vicinity of woods. It is with 
difficulty forced to fly, and even when pursued by a dog it will only rise when appar- 
ently just on the point of being caught. Some of this species nest in Louisiana; 
others migrate northward about the beginning of March. Dr. Trudeau has seen them 
in Salem, N. J., about the end of April, a few remaining there. 
Mr. Nuttall mentions that in the meadows of West Cambridge, Mass., and in 
other wet marsh-lands rarely visited by man, he has occasionally met with this bird. 
One was brought to him late in autumn that had been surprised while feeding on 
insects by the margin of a small pool overgrown with the leaves of the water-lily ; 
without attempting either to swim or to fly, it darted nimbly over the floating leaves. 
When wounded it can swim and dive Avith great shill. Mr. Ives informed Mr. Nuttall 
that it is frequently met with, in the fall, in the marshes in the vicinity of Salem, 
Mass. Mr. Nuttall also mentions that, having spent the night of Oct. 6, 1831, in a 
lodge on the borders of Fresh Pond, he heard, about sunrise, the Yellow-breasted 
Rails begin to stir among the reeds. As soon as awake, they called out, in an abrupt 
and cackling cry, krek-krek, krek, krek, kuk k’kh. This note, apparently from young- 
birds, was ansAvered in a loAver and soothing tone. These uncouth and guttural notes 
resembled in sound the croaking of the tree-frog. These birds were probably a 
migrating brood from the north. By the first of November this cackling ceases, and 
in all probability the Avliole have passed farther south. 
Three eggs in the Smithsonian Collection (No. 7057), from Winnebago, in North- 
ern Illinois, measure respectively, 1.08 inches by .85, 1.12 by .82, 1.12 by .80. They 
are of oval shape, one end slightly more tapering than the other. Their ground-color 
is a very deep buff, and one set of markings — which are almost entirely confined to 
the larger end — consists of blotches of pale diluted purplish brown ; these are over 
lain by a dense sprinkling of fine dottings of a rusty brown. 
Porzana jamaicensis. 
THE LITTLE BLACK RAIL. 
a. jamaicensis. 
Rallus jamaicensis, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 718 — Ann. Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 359, pi. 349. 
Ortygometra jamaicensis, “Stephens, Shaw’s Gen. Zool.” — A ud. Synop. 1839, 214; B. Am. V. 
1842, 157, pi. 308. 
Porzana jamaicensis, Cass, in Baird’s B. N. Am. 1858, 749. — Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 556. 
— Coues, Key, 1872, 247 ; Check List, 1873, no. 470 ; 2d ed. 1882, no. 681 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 
539. — Ridgav. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 576. 
Crex pygmcca, Blackwell, Brewster’s Jour. YI. 1832, 77. 
Ortygometra chilensis, Bonap. Compt. Rend. XLIII. 599. 
Rallus salinasi, Philippi, AViegm. Archiv, 1867, 262. 
“ Oallinula salinasi, Phil. Cat. 1869, 38.” 
vol. i. — 48 
