To the order, =Paludicolae=, belong the cranes, rails, gallinules and
coots, or mudhens, as they are commonly called. Of the members of this
order we are concerned only with the cranes, rails and coots. The
sandhill crane (=Grus canadensis) is a common visitor to all parts of
the Coast, but more plentiful in the interior valleys than near the
seashore. They are generally hard to approach and for that reason they
are but little hunted by our sportsmen. The whooping crane (=Grus
americana) once common throughout the middle states, is still met with
to considerable extent in Mexico, but it is by no means a common
visitor.
The California clapper rail, known also as the San Mateo rail (=Rallus
obsoletus=), is the largest as well as the most important of the rail
family in this section. At one time the clapper rail was very
plentiful in certain localities in California and furnished abundant
sport, though rather of a tame nature, to those who hunted them. Being
an easy bird to kill and unsuspicious, they have been rapidly reduced
in numbers until now they are in danger of extinction unless laws are
enacted giving them better protection. The clapper is only a straggler
south of San Francisco bay.
The Virginia rail (=Rallus virginianus=), a species not more than half
the size of the clapper rail, is found sparingly over the Coast, but
principally on the fresh water marshes.
The little yellow rail (=Porzana noveboracensis=) is found on the
fresh waters from central California south, but it is nowhere
abundant.
The black rail (=Porzana jamaicensis=) is another of the smaller rails
that are found on the fresh waters to a limited extent. Both this and
the last preceding one are so small that they are seldom shot, though
as an article of food they are very delicate.