YELLOW RAIL. 
215. Coturnicops novebo race?} sis. 7 inches. 
This is a very handsome species, with plumage of glossy 
brown, yellowish buff: black and white barred side feathers. 
The back is blackish with the feathers edged with white. These 
small Rails are like field mice, hard to locate or obtain sight of 
when in the marsh grass. They object to flying unless forced 
to do so, and trust to their small size and their agility to get 
through rushes to avoid being seen. 
Nest. —Is placed on the ground and made of grass woven and 
twisted together; the six to twelve eggs are rich buff color, 
specked with reddish brown in a wreath about the larger end 
(1.10 x .80). 
Range.- —Locally distributed in temperate America from 
southern California to British Columbia. 
BLACK RAIL. 
216. Creciscus coturniculus. 5 inches. 
This is the smallest of the Rails. A dark slaty colored bird, 
with back a dark brown thickly spotted with white, gray 
feathers on the sides and flank spotted and barred with white. 
Nest. —These are woven of strips of rushes and grass, nicely 
cupped to hold the eggs, which number from six to twelve; 
creamy white, specked all over with reddish brown (1.03 x.75). 
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