158 
LEAST WATER RAIL. 
the same, but this day my men mowing around the pond started up two of 
the usual kind. The hen flew a few rods, and then flew back to her young 
in an instant, when they caught her, together with her four young, which I 
herewith send you. Many more can be caught. I have seen them in our 
meadow every month of the year, but they never make a great noise except 
when very fat on the wild oat’s seed. From the above you will conclude 
that they do not migrate to the south, but breed here. Respectfully, 
“ Thomas Rowan.” 
Rallus jamaicensis, Briss. Suppl., p. 140. 
Least Water Rail, Rallus jamaicensis , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 359. 
Male, 6, wing, 3£. 
From Louisiana to New Jersey, in fresh-water meadows and marshes, 
difficult of access. Migratory. 
Adult Male. 
Bill shorter than the head, rather stout, compressed, tapering. Upper 
mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, being slightly convex toward 
the end, the ridge narrow and convex in its whole length, the sides convex 
towards the end, the edges sharp, the tip rather acute. Nasal groove 
extending to a little beyond the middle of the bill ; nostrils linear, lateral, 
submedial, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the 
sides erect, the dorsal line sloping upwards, the edges a little inflected, the 
tip narrowed, the gap-line straight. 
Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck shortish. Body compact, 
deeper than broad. Feet of moderate length, rather slender ; tibia bare a 
short way above the joint ; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, anteriorly 
covered with broad scutella, posteriorly with smaller, and on the sides 
reticulated. Hind toe small and. very slender ; middle toe longest, and 
longer than the tarsus ; inner toe considerably shorter than the outer : toes 
free, with numerous scutella above. Claws of moderate length, compressed, 
slightly arched, acute. 
Plumage blended, slightly glossy above. Wings short and broad, taper- 
ing, rounded, the first and second nearly equal and longest. Tail very short, 
much rounded, of twelve feeble rounded feathers ; the upper and lower tail- 
coverts nearly as long as the tail-feathers. 
Bill black. Iris red. Feet bright yellowish-green, claws dusky. The 
head and all the lower parts are very dark purplish-grey, on the upper part 
of the head approaching to black, on the fore part of the neck faintly undu- 
lated with paler, on the sides and hind parts barred with greyish-white ; the 
lower wing-coverts barred with grey and white ; the lower tail-coverts of the 
