Part 107

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.

310. 3. Ortygometra Jamaicensis, Briss. Least Crake-Gallinule.

Plate CCCXLIX. Adult and Young.

Head and lower parts dark purplish-grey, approaching to black, the sides and lower wing-coverts and abdomen, barred with greyish-white; hind neck and fore part of back dark chestnut; the rest of the upper parts greyish-black tinged with brown, and transversely barred with white; the wings inclining to reddish-brown.

Male, 6, wing, 3-7/8.