68 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
legs and bare parts of tibise brownish iris reddish. A pale streak from base of 
maxilla runs back over eye ; lores dusky ; top of head and back of neck dark- 
brownish, almost black ; spot on lower eyelid, chin, most of throat, some feathers on 
edge of wing also some under tail coverts, white ; sides and front of neck and breast 
bright rufous, growing paler below, belly in same birds is nearly white ; wing- 
coverts similar to breast but darker. Feathers of upper parts generally, are mostly 
brownish-black, edged with olive-brown ; lower part of abdomen, flanks and axillars 
blackish, with conspicuous transverse white bars. 
Habitat. — Fresh-water marshes of the eastern province of the United States, from 
the Middle States, northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Kansas southward. Casually 
north to Massachusetts, Maine and Ontario. 
Spring and fall migrant. Most frequently seen in fall, and much less 
common than either the Virg*inia or Sora Rails. Always observed sing*ly 
or in pairs ; often in same swamps with Sora and Virginia Rail during 
migrations. Probably a regular breeder in some of our extensive 
swamps and marshes. Specimens of this species have been shot by 
Messrs. James and Scott Thompson, in the late summer and early 
autumn, in the neighborhood of Erie city, and Mr. George B. Sennett 
has observed it in Erie county as a spring migrant. Dr. John W. Det- 
willer, of Northampton county, has found nests of this, also the Sora 
and Little Red Rail in Pennsylvania. Hon. Gerard C. Brown, York 
county ; A. T. Lilley, Bradford county ; Dr. A. C. Treichler, Lancaster 
county ; D. Frank Keller, of Berks county, and Dr. Van Fleet, Clinton 
county, state that the King Rail occurs in their locahties as a straggler. 
During the past ten years I have obtained in Delaware, Philadelphia 
and Chester counties about a dozen birds of this species ; two of these 
were killed in spring and the others in August and September. The 
nest, a rude platform of grasses, weeds, etc., is placed on the ground or 
in a tussock of grass above the water, in . a marsh. The eggs measure 
about 1.65 X 1.20, and are dull creamy white, dotted and blotched with 
reddish-brown and light-purple. 
Rallus longirostris crepitans (Gmel.). 
Clapper Hail ; Mud Hen. 
Desckiption. 
This bird is similar in form but somewhat smaller than R. elegans which it re- 
sembles in general appearance, but lacking the bright rufous as well as other darker 
colors of the King Rail. 
Adult. — Bill averages a trifle longer than Length about sixteen inches; bill 
(dried skin), upper half of maxilla brownish, rest of maxilla except end which is 
brownish, and most of lower mandible pale yellowish brown ; legs grayish-yellow 
brown ; iris brownish. Top of head, back of neck and upper parts generally gray- 
ish-olive brown ; feathers have dark centers and paler margins ; chin, upper throat, 
streak over eye, spot on under eye-lid, and middle of abdomen whitish ; sides, 
flanks, under wing coverts and axillars dusky grayish-brown, barred with white ; 
greater part of neck in front, sides of same, and lores, ashy-gray ; breast grayish- 
white, with a pale reddish-yellow tinge ; this latter color in specimen before me is 
well shown on front of neck. 
