KING RAIL. 
RED-BREASTED RAIL. FRESHWATER MARSH HEN. ’ 
Rallus ELEGANS. 
Char. Upper parts rich olive brown of varying shades, — sometimes 
with a yellow tinge, — striped with black ; crown dark brown ; a line of 
cinnamon over the eyes, and a line of dusky through the eyes ; wings brown, 
of varying shades ; under parts deejj cinnamon, darkest on the breast, fad- 
ing to dull white on throat and belly ; sides and flanks brown or dusky, 
with broad stripes of white. Length 17 to 19 inches. 
Nest. Hid amid a tuft of rank grass in a fresh-water marsh ; placed on 
the ground, though sometimes fastened to the grass and weeds that sur- 
round it j made of grass and weed stems. 
Eggs. 6-12; ground color varies from pale buff to creamy white, 
marked, sparingly, with reddish brown or purplish brown and lilac ; size 
variable, average about 1.70 X 1.20. 
