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 grasses, 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 x .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.

[Illustration 136: Rich buff.]
[Illustration: Yellow Rail. Black Rail.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left margin.]

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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.

218. PURPLE GALLINULE. _Ionornis martinicus_.

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States; casually north in eastern United
States to Massachusetts and Ohio.

A very handsome bird with purplish head, neck and under parts, and a
greenish back. Like all the Gallinules and Coots, this species has a
scaly crown plate. An abundant breeding species in the southern parts of
its range. Its nests are made of rushes or grasses woven together and
either attached to living rushes or placed in tufts of grass. They lay
from six to ten eggs of a creamy or pale buff color sparingly blotched
with chestnut. Size 1.60 x 1.15. Data.--Avery's Island, Louisiana, May
7, 1896. Ten eggs. Nest of dry rushes, woven to standing ones growing
around an "alligator hole" in a marsh. Collector, E. A. McIlhenny.

[Illustration 137: Purple Gallinule. Corn Crake.]
[Illustration: Pale buff.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 136

219. FLORIDA GALLINULE. _Gallinula galeata._

Range.--Temperate North America, from New England, Manitoba and
California,