BIRDS— SCOLOPACIDAE-RALLUS CREPITANS. 
747 
This is the largest species of rail found in North America, and is one of the most handsome 
birds of this genus. It is found for much the greater part in fresh waters, and inhabits the 
entire country on the Atlantic from New Jersey to Florida, very probably extending also over 
the vast intermediate regions to the Pacific in the same latitude. The only specimens from 
California, or other country on the Pacific, that we have ever seen, are in the present collection. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When col¬ 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig. 
No. 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
Remarks. 
2674 
1113 
4322 
5087 
7056 
6444 
4512 
S. F. Baird. 
<?. 
Washington, D. C. 
July 7,1843 
1854. 
....do . 
Win. M. Laird. 
17.00 
22.00 
6.75 
Mar. —,1855 
May 6,1854 
Mar. —,1857 
13.50 
19.00 
6.00 
Eyesbrown, feetgray, 
bill dark. 
t? 
Lieut. Bryan .... 
Dr. Suckley. 
1 
603 
Lieut. Williamson 
Dr. Newberry 
RALLUS CREPITANS, Gm. 
Clapper Rail; Mud Hen. 
? ? Rallus longirostris, Boddaert, Tabl. PI. enl. 1784 ; pi. 849. 
Rallus crepitans, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 713.— Wils. Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 112, (not the plate.)—B on. Obs. Wils. 
1825; pi. 228.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 331 : V, 570 ; pi. 214.— Ib. Syn.215.— Ib. Birds Am. 
V, 1842, 165 ; pi. 310.— Cab. Jour. 1856, 427. 
Figures. — Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 62, fig. 2.— Aud. B. of Am., pi. 204 ; oct. ed. V, pi. 310.— Buffon, PI. Enl. 849? 
Sp Ch. —Smaller than the preceding. Upper parts light ashy olive, with longitudinal stripes of brownish black, most 
numerous on the back ; a line of dull yellowish white from the base of the bill over the eye ; space before and behind the eye 
ashy. Throat and under eyelid white ; neck before, and breast, pale reddish yellow, or tawny tinged with bluish ashy on the 
breast; sides, abdomen, under tail coverts, and tibiae, with transverse bands of brownish black and white, the former being the 
wider. Upper wing coverts brownish olive ; under wing coverts black, with transverse lines of white. Total length, (to end 
of tail,) about 14 inches ; wing, 5| ; tail 2i inches. 
Hab. —Middle and southern coast of the States on the Atlantic ocean ; South America. 
Rather smaller than the preceding, but when in mature plumage considerably resembling it 
in colors. Specimens generally, however, have a faded or bleached appearance, and it is, in fact, 
rather unusual to meet with those that have not this character. 
This bird is more an inhabitant of the seacoast than the preceding, and is abundant from 
New Jersey to Florida, and southwardly on the shores of South America. The proper name of 
this species is, very probably, Rallus longirostris, as above described and figured. Specimens 
before us, from the coast of Guiana, seem quite identical with others from New Jersey. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. No. 
Sex and 
age. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Remarks. 
1055 
10459 
2673 
2 
9 
o o 
May, 1842.... 
S. F. Baird. 
Eye hazel 
J. K. Townsend_ 
