THE BIRD BOOK 
215. Yellow Rail. 
Coturnicops novel) or a c e n s is. 
Ranrge. — Locally distributed in temperate North 
America, from New England and Nova Scotia, to 
California and British Columbia; south to the 
Gulf States in winter. 
This is a very handsome species, with plumage 
of glossy brown, yellowish buff, black and white; 
length seven inches. They are very shy and se- 
cretive, and are probably 
more common than gener- 
ally supposed. Their nest- 
ing habits are the same 
as those of the preceding. 
Their eggs are of a rich 
buff color, speckled in the 
form of a wreath about 
the large end, with red- 
dish brown. They are 
relatively narrower than 
those of other Rails. Size 
1.10 x .80. Data. — Benson Co., North Dakota, June 
4, 1901. Set of ten eggs collected by Rev. P. B. 
Peabody. This set is in the collection of Mr. 
John Lewis Childs. 
216. Black Rail. Creciscus jamaicensis. 
Range. — Temperate North America, breeding 
from northern United States southward. 
Smallest of the rails; 5 inches in length. A 
dark slaty colored bird with 
. white specks, and a patch of 
* ' dark chestnut on the fore 
f'k '■ • 'V; *. * back. This diminutive spe- 
V *.* ;Lj scies is very hard to find be- 
cause of its retiring habits, 
but according to Mr. Brews- 
ter it may be located by the 
clicking sound of its song. 
Their nests are woven of strips of rushes or grasses, and are well “cupped” 
to receive the eggs. They are on the ground on the border of, or in, marshy 
places. Mr. Childs has a fine set of eight eggs, taken by Arthur T. Wyane, at 
Mt. Pleasant, S. C., June 10, 1903. The nest was located in an oat field. The 
eggs have a creamy white ground, and are specked all over with reddish brown. 
Size 1.03 x. 75. 
Yellow Rail. 
Black Rail 
[21 6.1.] Farallon Rail. Creciscus coturniculus. 
Known only from a single specimen, which is slightly smaller than jamai- 
censis and without the white specks on the back. 
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