Plate CCXXXIX.
Frontal plate and bill white, the latter dusky toward the end; head
and neck greyish-black, upper parts deep bluish-grey, with an
olivaceous tinge on the scapulars and inner secondaries; quills
greyish-brown, tail brownish-black; breast and abdomen dull
bluish-grey, lighter behind; edge of wing, outer margin of first
quill, tips of outer secondaries, and lower tail-coverts white. Female
of a lighter tint, with the frontal plate smaller.
_Male_, 13-10/12, 25.
From Texas to the northern parts of Maine. Exceedingly abundant in
Louisiana and the Floridas, during winter and spring, where some
remain to breed. The greater number breed in Maine and New Brunswick,
as well as along the Great Lakes. Rare in the Middle Atlantic
districts. Columbia River.
Common Coot, Fulica atra, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 61.
Fulica americana, Bonap. Syn. p. 338.
Cinereous Coot, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 229.
American Coot, Fulica americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p.
291; v. v. p. 568.
GENUS III. ORTYGOMETRA, Leach. CRAKE-GALLINULE.
Bill shorter than the head, rather stout, deep, compressed, tapering;
upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, being slightly
convex toward the end, the ridge flattish for a short space at the
base, very slightly extended on the forehead, narrow in the rest of
its extent, the sides nearly erect, the edges sharp, with a slight
sinus close to the rather obtuse tip; nasal groove broad and extending
to two-thirds; lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the
dorsal line ascending, nearly straight, the sides erect, the tip
narrowed. Nostrils linear, lateral, submedial. Head rather small,
oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body rather slender, much
compressed. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tibia bare below;
tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, with broad anterior scutella;
hind toe short and slender, anterior toes very long, compressed,
scutella, the outer slightly longer than the inner. Claws of moderate
length, slender, extremely compressed, tapering to a fine point.
Plumage rather stiff, but blended; feathers of the forehead with the
shaft enlarged. Wings short and broad, somewhat convex, the second
quill longest. Tail extremely short, much rounded, of twelve weak
feathers. Digestive organs as in Gallinula.
308. 1. Ortygometra Carolinus, Linn. Carolina Crake-Gallinule.--Sora
Rail.
Plate CCXXXIII. Male, Female, and Young.
Upper parts olive-brown, the feathers brownish-black in the centre,
those on the back with two marginal lines of white; a broad band
surrounding the base of the bill, the central part of the crown, the
chin, and the middle of the fore neck in its whole length,
brownish-black; a band over the eye, cheeks, and sides of neck
ash-grey; middle of breast and abdomen greyish-white; sides
olivaceous, barred with brownish-black and white; lower tail-coverts
chiefly white, the feathers over them reddish-yellow. Female similar,
but duller. Young like the female, but without black on the head or
throat.
_Male_, 9-3/4, 14.
Passes across the United States, both by the interior and along the
coast. Some breed in New Jersey. Rarely seen east of Massachusetts.
Extremely abundant in autumn on the Delaware, and other streams or
lakes furnished with wild oats. A few reside in Florida and Louisiana
in winter.
Rail, Rallus carolinus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 24.
Rallus carolinus, Bonap. Syn. p. 334.
Carolina Rail, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 208.
Sora Rail, Rallus carolinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 251;
v. v. p. 572.
309. 2. Ortygometra Noveboracensis, Lath. Yellow-breasted
Crake-Gallinule.--Yellow-breasted Rail.
Upper parts and sides brownish-black, longitudinally streaked with
yellow, and transversely barred with white; a broad band of
reddish-yellow over the eye; loral space and a short band behind the
eye blackish-brown, fore part of neck and breast light reddish-yellow,
each feather terminally margined with brown; axillaries, lower
wing-coverts, and middle of abdomen, white; lower tail-coverts
brownish-red, with faint whitish dots.
_Male_, 7-3/4, 12-1/4.
Common in Lower Louisiana and Florida, where it breeds. Stragglers go
as far as Hudson's Bay. Occasionally met with far in the interior.
Prefers fresh water.
Rallus noveboracensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 335.
Rallus noveboracensis, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 136.
Yellow-breasted Rail, Rallus noveboracensis, Swains. & Rich.
F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 402.
Yellow-breasted Rail, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 402.
Yellow-breasted Rail, Rallus noveboracensis. Aud. Orn. Biog.
v. iv. p. 25.