BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—POEZANA JAMAICENSIS, 
749 
Porzana, Vieillot. 
PORZANA CAROLINA. 
Sora; Common Rail; Ortolan. 
Rallus carolinus , Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 363.— Doughty’s Cab. N. H. 1, 1830, 206 ; pi. xviii.— Aud. Orn. Biog. 
Ill, 1835, 251 : V, 572 ; pi. 233. 
Gallinula Carolina , Lath. Iiid. II, 1790, 711. 
Rallus ( Crex ) carolinus, Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 230.— Nutt. Mari. It, 1834, 209. 
Porzana Carolina, -f— Cab. Jour. 1856, 428. 
Ortygoinetra Carolina , Bon. List, 1838.— Aud. Syn. 1839, 213.— Ib. Birds Amor. V, 1842, 145; pi. 306.— Gosse, 
Birds Jam. 1847, 371. 
Rallus stoliilus and melanops, Yieill. 
Figures.—Edwards’ Birds, III, pi. 144.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VI, pi. 48, fig. 1.— Aud. B. of Am. pi. 233; oct. ed. V, 
pi. 306. 
Sp. Ch. —Space around the base of the bill, extending downwards on the neck before and over the top of the head, black. 
Male. Upper parts greenish brown, with longitudinal bands of black, and many feathers having narrow stripes of white on 
their edges. Behind the eye, sides of the neck, and the breast, fine bluish ashy, with circular spots and transverse bands of 
white on the breast ; middle of the abdomen and under tail coverts white; sides and flanks with transverso bands of brownish 
black and white. Bill greenish yellow ; legs dirk green. Female similar, but duller in colors. Young. Without black at the 
base of the bill or on the neck ; throat dull white ; breast dull yellowish ashy ; upper parts tinged with dull yellow. 
Total length about 8| inches ; wing, 41 ; tail, 2 inches. 
Hab .—Entire temperate regions of North America. 
The most abundant and most universally known bird of its genus inhabiting the United 
States, and everywhere known as “ the rail.” It is especially numerous along the creeks and 
rivers on the Atlantic during the autumnal migration, when excursions for obtaining it are a 
favorite amusement of our gunners and sportsmen. 
This bird appears to inhabit the entire temperate regions of North America. Specimens in 
the present collection from California are precisely identical with others from the banks of the 
Delaware river. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When col¬ 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig. 
No. 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings 
Wing. 
Remarks. 
Q421 
$ 
Aiifr. 30,1845 
S. F. Baird.. 
9.64 
14.25 
4.32 
1697 
Q 
Au«t. 16,1844 
8.64 
13.25 
4.32 
1649 
$ 
July 27,1844 
8.75 
13.75 
4.32 
10461 
J' 
May —, 1842 
6533 
6950 
RpH Rivpr H.TUTprr. 
4875 
1856. 
8.50 
14.25 
4.75 
Eyes dark red, pupil blk. 
4555 
41 
4901 
8.75 
13.50 
4.00 
Creciscus, Caban is. 
PORZANA JAMAICENSIS. 
Little Black Rail. 
Rallus jamaicensis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 718.— Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 359 ; pi. 349. 
Ortygometra jamaicensis, Stephens. — Bon. List, 1838.— Aud. Syn. 1839, 214.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 157 ; 
pi. 308. 
Porzana jamaicensis, -? 
Creciscus jamaicensis, Cabanis, Jour. 1856, 428. (“ Genus distinguished from Porzana by shorter toes.”) 
