The Bird Book Part 25

211. CLAPPER RAIL. _Rallus crepitans crepitans._

Range.--Salt marshes of the Atlantic coast from southern New England southward.

A grayish colored Rail, about the size of, and with the markings similar to those of the King Rail. It is as exclusively a salt water species as the King Rail is a fresh water one. With the possible exception of the Carolina or Sora Rail, this is the most abundant of all the Rails, hundreds nesting in a single marsh on the South Atlantic coast. Their nests are built of rushes and weeds, and are placed on the ground either in the tall gra.s.s bordering the marshes or attached to the rushes in the midst of the marsh. The nesting season commences during April and continues through May. They lay from six to fourteen eggs, of a buff color spotted irregularly with brown and gray. Size 1.70 1.20.

211a. LOUISIANA CLAPPER RAIL. _Rallus crepitans saturatus._

The habitation of this subspecies is limited to the coast of Louisiana.

It is very similar to the proceeding but is said to be brighter in plumage.

211b. FLORIDA CLAPPER RAIL. _Rallus crepitans scotti._

Range.--Western coast of Florida.

This bird is also similar to crepitans but is much darker and brighter.

211c. WAYNE'S CLAPPER RAIL. _Rallus crepitans waynei_.

Range.--South Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Florida.

This subspecies is a little darker than crepitans, being about midway between that species and Rallus scotti. The nests and eggs of any of these sub-species cannot be distinguished from those of the common Clapper Rail.

211.2. CARIBBEAN CLAPPER RAIL. _Rallus longirostris caribaeus._

Range.--West Indies and east coast of Mexico, north to southern Texas.

This species is similar to the Clapper, but has a shorter and relatively stouter bill.

[Ill.u.s.tration 134: King Rail. Clapper Rail.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 133

212. VIRGINIA RAIL. _Rallus virginia.n.u.s._

Range.--Temperate North America, breeding from the Middle States and California, northward to British Columbia and Labrador, and wintering along the Gulf coast; most abundant in the east.

A small Rail, 9 inches long, very similar in markings and coloration to the King Rail. It is found chiefly in fresh water swamps, where it builds its nests in tufts of rushes. The eggs number from six to fourteen, and are creamy white, or white, speckled with reddish brown.

Size 1.25 .90 Data.--Fighting Island, Detroit River, Michigan, May 30, 1904. Nest made of marsh gra.s.s, in rushes, 6 inches above the water.

Collector, E. Leroy King.

213. SPOTTED CRAKE. _Porzana porzana._

This common European species is casually found in Greenland. It breeds in large numbers throughout temperate Europe, nesting as do the American Rails.

214. SORA. _Porzana carolina._

Range.--Temperate North America, breeding from the southern parts of the British possessions, south to the Gulf coast.

This abundant species of Rail may be readily known by its small size, about eight inches long, and the black face and throat of the adult.

These are the "Rail-birds" or "Ortolans" which are annually slaughtered by thousands, for sport and marketing, during their fall migration. It is only because of the large families that they rear, that they are able to withstand this yearly decimation of their ranks. They nest either in salt or fresh water marshes, making a rude structure of gra.s.s, weeds and strips of rushes, on the ground, generally concealed in a tuft of gra.s.s in a tangled swamp or marsh. During May, they lay from six to sixteen eggs of a bright, buffy gray color, spotted with reddish brown and lavender. Size 1.25 .90.

[Ill.u.s.tration 135: Creamy white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sora. Virginia Rail.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bright buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 134

215. Yellow Rail. _Coturnicops noveboracensis._

Range.--Locally distributed in temperate North America, from New England and Nova Scotia, to California and British Columbia; south to the Gulf States in winter.

This is a very handsome species, with plumage of glossy brown, yellowish buff, black and white; length seven inches. They are very shy and secretive, and are probably more common than generally supposed. Their nesting habits are the same as those of the preceding. Their eggs are of a rich buff color, speckled in the form of a wreath about the large end, with reddish brown. They are relatively narrower than those of other Rails. Size 1.10 .80. Data.--Benson Co., North Dakota, June 4, 1901.

Set of ten eggs collected by Rev. P. B. Peabody. This set is in the collection of Mr. John Lewis Childs.

216. BLACK RAIL. _Creciscus jamaicensis._

Range.--Temperate North America, breeding from northern United States southward.

Smallest of the rails; 5 inches in length. A dark slaty colored bird with white specks, and a patch of dark chestnut on the fore back. This diminutive species is very hard to find because of its retiring habits, but according to Mr. Brewster it may be located by the clicking sound of its song.

Their nests are woven of strips of rushes or gra.s.ses, and are well "cupped" to receive the eggs. They are on the ground on the border of, or in, marshy places. Mr. Childs has a fine set of eight eggs, taken by Arthur T. Wayne, at Mt. Pleasant, S. C., June 10, 1903. The nest was located in an oat field. The eggs have a creamy white ground, and are specked all over with reddish brown. Size 1.03 .75.

216.1. FARALLON RAIL. _Creciscus coturniculus._

Known only from a single specimen, which is slightly smaller than _jamaicensis_ and without the white specks on the back.

[Ill.u.s.tration 136: Rich buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Yellow Rail. Black Rail.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left margin.]

Page 135

217. Corn Crake. _Crex crex._

This European Rail is casually found in Greenland and along the Atlantic coast of North America. It is the most abundant of European Rails and is found breeding in marshes, meadows and along streams.