cxciv BALLma:. BIRDS. BALLiua;. 
witli a low mast, and a fire-grate to light up the reeds. 
hushed, and, as darkness settled down, the dull, heavy 
croaking of the frogs played bass to the shrill fal- 
setto of the insects. Suddenly they, too, were hushed 
in turn, frightened, maybe, into silence; and from 
the heart of the bulrushes Grich-riclc-h-h-Tc ! lustily 
shouted some wide-awake Kail, to be answered by 
another and another, till the reeds resounded.” 
CLAPPER RAIL {R. longirostris). — 'I’his familiar 
Kail iidiabits the whole of the Atlantic Coast, from 
New England to Florida. Local names are numer- 
ous and confusing. It is known as Salt-water Marsh- 
hen, Mud-hen, etc. It is the K. crepitans of Wil- 
son, who adds the trivial names. Meadow Clapper 
and Big Kail. It migrates regidarly, arriving on the 
coast of New Jersey about the last of Ajiril. 
CAROLINA RAIL [Porzana Carolina). — Called in 
the Middle States SoRA,and named Ortolan in some 
quarters. Jt is common to the entire temperate re- 
gions of North America, breeding from the Middle 
States northward, and wintering in the Southern 
States and beyond. It is found south as far as Ven- 
ezuela, and in the West India Islands and north as 
far as Greenland. Or. Cones regards it as not 
common in the Western States. Mr. Allen found il. 
in Utah, about Great Salt Uike, and Or. Cones in 
Arizona. 'I’he eggs are like the othei’ species, 
but are distinguished by their strong drab color, 
are rather smaller, and perlmps more obtuse. Wil- 
son describes this species as Kail, and remarks : 
“Of all our land or water-fowl, perhaps none afford 
the sportsman more agreeable amusement or a more 
delicious repast than the little bird now before us. 
'I’his amusement is indeed temporary — lasting only 
two or three hours in the day, for four or live weeks in 
each year — but, as it occurs in the most agreeable 
and temperate of our seasons, is attended with little 
or no fatigue to the gunner, and is frequently success- 
ful. It attracts numerous followers, and is pursued in 
such places as the bird frequents, with great eager- 
ness and enthusiasm. Early in August, when the 
reeds along the shores of Delaware have attained 
their full growth, the Kail resorts to them in great 
numbers, to feed on the seeds of this plant. When 
the reeds are in seed, or even when in blossom, the 
birds take possession in great numbers. As you 
walk along the embankment, they may be heard 
squeaking like so many })uppies. If a stone be 
thrown among them, there is a general outcry, and a 
reiterated Knk-huTc lcu'k ! something like that of a 
guinea-fowl.” Wilson distinctly asserts, in this con- 
nection, that he has frequently discovered them 
clinging with their feet to the reeds under water, 
and at other times skulking under the floating reeds, 
with their bill just above the surface.” Sometimes 
they dive when wounded, and keep under the gun- 
wale of the boat, moving as the boat moves, and 
escaping when opportunity offers. NVe hear of cer- 
tain water-fowl diving at the flash of the gun, and 
gunners assert that they remain under water, attached 
by the bill to some submarine plant. If Wilson’s 
observation be correct, we may receive the latter as 
truth. In Virginia, about the James Kiver, they are 
taken, in dark nights, by negroes. A boat is rigged 
I he negroes then push the boat through the swamp, 
and knock the birds down with a paddle — in this way 
securing great numbers. 'I’his Kail is frequently met 
with at sea, specimens having dropped upon the deck 
of vessels, showing plainly that they migrate to 
other shores. AVilson details some interesting items 
concerning the curious habits of the Rail, in “ falling 
into a passion or fit.” AVe have known other species 
to be frightened into an epileptoid condition, and so 
captured easily. 'I’his Rail is nine inches in length 
and fourteen inches in extent of wing. 
LITTLE YELLOW RAIL [P. tioveboracensis ). — 
'I’he habitat of this Kail is Eastern North Amer- 
ica, ranging north to Hudson’s Bay. In New Eng- 
land it is not observed beyond Massachusetts. It is 
not an abundant s])ecies. 
LITTLE BLACK RAIL (P. jamaicensis ). — 'I'his 
little species is an inhabitant of southern clime, 
though it has been captured as far north as New 
Jersey, and once, by Mr. Allen, in Kansas. It 
reaches as far as Chili, in South America ; is com- 
mon' in Central America and the AA'^est Indies, but 
seems to be rare in all parts of the United States. 
'I’wo specimens were captured during a sojourn of 
eight years, by the writer, at 'I'ortugas, Fla. 'I'hese 
were taken inside Fort Jefferson, in the coarse 
grass, where they strove to hide; but the vigorous 
shouting of a couple of boys threw them into the 
peculiar condition mentioned by AVilson, as seen in 
the Sora, and they were easily taken. 
FLORIDA GALLINULE [Gallinula galeata].—B\n]s 
of this group will be immediately recognized by the 
[)resence of a broad, horny plate (an expansion of 
the bill) which covers the forehead. In the structure 
of the feet the Gallinules are much like ordinary Kails, 
having little or no marginal fringe on the toes; but 
the Coots are conspicuously lobe-footed, the toes be- 
ing furnished with a series of broad, semicircular flaps. 
FLORIDA GALLINULE [Gallinula galeata). — 'This 
bird is mostly a southern one, found rarely as far 
north as Massachusetts ; occasionally as far west as 
Kansas, and south as far as Chili. It is known to 
breed in Alassachusetts, and even as far north as 
Hamilton, Ontario, it is recorded as “common.” It 
winters in the South A^antic and Gulf States. 
AMERICAN COOT [Fulica americana). — 'I’his is 
also called the Mud-iien. Its habitat is the entire 
tenqierate North America, west to Alaskii. It 
breeds in neaily all this range. 'I’he nests of this 
bird are built on reedy banks, and sometimes in the 
midst of wet clumps, so that they are sometimes 
quite submerged. “ 'I’lie Coot,” says Bartram, “ is a 
native of North America, from Pennsylvania to 
Florida. 'I’liey inhabit large rivers, fresh-water in- 
lets and bays, lagoons, etc., where they swim and 
feed in the midst of the grasses and reeds of the 
shores, particularly in the St. John's Kiver, in East 
Florida, where they are found in immense flocks. 
They ai'e loquacious and noisy, talking to one an- 
other night and day, and are con.stantly on the water, 
the broad lobated membranes on their toes enabling 
them to swim with ease and to dive like ducks.” 
