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
, 93/4, 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
, 73/4, 121/4.
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, 37/8.
From Louisiana to New Jersey, in fresh-water meadows and marshes, difficult of access. Migratory.
Rallus jamaicensis, Briss. Suppl. p. 140.
Least Water Rail, Rallus jamaicensis. Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 359.
GENUS IV. RALLUS, Linn. RAIL
Bill much longer than the head, slender, compressed, very slightly decurved, high at the base; upper mandible with the dorsal line almost straight, until towards the end, where it is slightly curved, the ridge a little flattened at the base, and extending slightly on the forehead, convex toward the end, nasal sinus forming a groove extending to two-thirds, the sides nearly erect, the edges slightly inflected, the notches very slight, the tip rather obtuse; lower mandible with the angle very long and extremely narrow, the dorsal line almost straight, the sides erect and a little convex, the edges involute, the tip narrowed but obtuse. Nostrils lateral, subbasal, linear. Head, small, oblong, much compressed; neck long and slender; body slender, much compressed. Feet long; tibia, bare below; tarsus rather long, stout, compressed anteriorly covered with broad scutella; hind toe very small and tender, fourth little longer than second, anterior toes very long, scutellate, compressed. Claws of moderate length, arched, slender, much compressed, acute. Plumage rather stiff; feathers of the forehead with the shaft enlarged, and extended beyond the tip. Wings very short and broad; third quill longest. Tail very short, much rounded, of twelve feeble rounded feathers, scarcely longer than the coverts.
311. 1. Rallus elegans, Aud. Great Red-breasted Rail. – Fresh-water Marsh-Hen
Plate CCIII. Male and Young.
Upper part of head and hind neck dull brown; a brownish-orange line over the eye; lower eyelid white; loral space and band behind the eye dusky; upper parts of the body streaked with brownish-black and light olive-brown, the two sides of each feather being of the latter colour; wing-coverts dull chestnut; most of the irregularly tipped with white primaries deep olive-brown; secondaries and tail-feathers like the back; sides and fore part of neck, with the breast, bright orange-brown; sides of the body and lower wing-coverts undulated with deep brown and greyish-white; tibial feathers pale greyish-brown, faintly barred with darker, as is the hind part of the abdomen; lower tail-coverts white, each with a blackish-brown spot near the end, those in the middle barred with black and white. Female and young similar, but with the tints duller. Iris bright red.
Male
, 19, 25.
Female
, 18, 24.
From Texas to New Jersey, more common from Louisiana to North Carolina. Inland swamps and marshes. Once met with in Kentucky.
Great Red-breasted Rail, Rallus elegans, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 27.
312. 2. Rallus crepitans, Gmel. Clapper Rail. – Salt-water Marsh-hen
Plate CCIV. Male and Female.
Upper part of head and hind neck olivaceous brown; a brownish-orange line from the bill to the eye; lower eyelid white; loral space, cheeks, and part of the sides of the neck bluish-grey; upper parts of the body streaked with greenish-olive and light grey, the two sides of each feather being of the latter colour; wing-coverts dull olive, tinged with grey, some of them with slight irregular whitish markings; primaries olive-brown, secondaries and tail-feathers like the back; upper part of throat yellowish-white, edged on either side with pale yellowish-brown; sides and fore part of neck bluish-grey, tinged with pale yellowish-brown; the fore part of the breast of the latter colour; lower wing-coverts, sides, hind part of abdomen, and middle lower tail-coverts undulated with deep greyish-brown and greyish-white; lateral tail-coverts with the outer webs white; tibial feathers similarly barred, but paler; middle of abdomen greyish-white; iris pale yellow. Female with the tints duller.
Male
, 15, 203/4.
Female
, 14, 191/4.
Exceedingly abundant from Texas to New Jersey, breeding in all salt-water marshes. Few proceed eastward beyond Long Island. Constantly resident from the Carolinas southward. Not inland.
Clapper Rail, Rallus crepitans, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 112; but not the figure, which is that of R. elegans.
Clapper Rail, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 201.
Clapper Rail or Salt-water Marsh-Hen, Rallus crepitans, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 33; v. v. p. 570.
313. 3. Rallus Virginianus, Linn. Virginian Rail
Plate CCV. Male, Female, and Young.
Upper parts deep brownish-black, streaked with live olive-brown; sides of the head dull bluish-grey, loral space of a deeper tint; a brownish-orange line to the eye; quills and primary coverts; blackish-brown; smaller coverts dark chestnut; throat reddish-white; fore neck and breast bright orange-brown, approaching to yellowish-red; sides, abdomen, and lower wing-coverts barred with brownish-black and white, the bands of the latter narrower; tibial feathers dusky anteriorly, light reddish behind; lower tail-coverts with a central brownish-black spot, their edges white, the tips pale reddish. Female and young similar, but with somewhat duller tints.
Male
, 101/2, 141/4.
Female
, 91/4.
Distributed through the country, and along the Atlantic shores, from Texas to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; breeding in all the districts. Frequents fresh and salt water. Returns southward in autumn, when great numbers spend the winter from Carolina to Louisiana.
Virginian Rail, Rallus virginianus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 109.
Rallus virginianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 334.
Lesser Clapper Rail, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 205.
Virginian Rail, Rallus virginianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 41; v. v. p. 573.
GENUS V. ARAMUS, Vieill. COURLAN
Bill long, being double the length of the head, rather slender, but strong, much compressed, straight, its breadth less before the nostrils, than towards the point; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight until towards the end, then slightly arcuato-declinate, the ridge convex in its whole length, the sides nearly erect, more convex toward the extremity, the tip blunted, the edges broad and obtuse for half their length, sharp but thick in the rest of their extent; lower mandible slightly ascending at the base, then direct, much compressed toward the tip, which is acute, the angle long and very narrow, the dorsal line slightly convex, the edges obtuse, becoming sharp towards the end; nasal groove nearly half the length of the bill. Nostrils direct, linear, long. Head rather small, oblong, compressed; neck long and slender; body ovato-oblong, much compressed. Feet very long, rather stout; tibia bare in its lower half; tarsus long, compressed, anteriorly broadly scutellate; toes long, rather slender; hind toe small; fourth considerably longer than second; anterior toes divided to the base, scutellate. Claws of moderate length, very slightly arched, compressed, tapering to a point. Plumage rather compact above, blended beneath. Wings of moderate length, very broad, concave, rounded; first short, falciform, with the inner web broader toward the end; fourth quill longest; inner secondaries much elongated. Tail short, broad, convex, rounded, of twelve broad rounded feathers. Digestive organs as in the Rails and Gallinules.
314. 1. Aramus scolopaceus, Vieill. Scolopaceous Courlan
Plate CCCLXXVII. Male.
Bill greenish-yellow; feet leaden-grey; plumage chocolate-brown, the upper parts glossed, with purple and brown reflections; fore part of the head paler, inclining to grey, each feather with a greyish-white central line; sides of the head and throat still lighter, and a small portion of the throat whitish, these parts being streaked with greyish-brown and greyish-white; lower eyelid white; hind part and sides of neck marked with elliptical spots of white in regular series, there being one on each feather, some of them extending forwards to the posterior angle of the eye; some of the feathers on the middle of the breast and the lower wing-coverts similarly marked with lanceolate white spots; quills and tail glossy blackish-purple. Female somewhat less, but similar. Young, when fledged, of a much lighter tint; head and fore neck brownish-grey; excepting the quills, primary coverts, tail-feathers, and rump, all the plumage marked with spots of white; those on the neck elongated, on the back, wings, and breast lanceolate.
Male
, 253/4, 41.
Female
, 25, 42.
Young
, 23.
Confined to the Everglades and central parts of Florida, where it is resident, but rather rare. Accidental on the Florida Keys.
Aramus scolopaceus, Bonap. Syn. p. 39.
Scolopaceous Courlan, Aramus scolopaceus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 111.
Scolopaceous Courlan, Aramus scolopaceus, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 68.
Scolopaceous Courlan, Aramus scolopaceus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 543.
FAMILY XXXIV. GRUINÆ. CRANES
Bill about the length of the head, straight, depressed at the base, compressed toward the end, rather obtuse. Nostrils subbasal, lateral oblong. Head rather small, oblong; neck long; body large, compressed. Legs long and slender; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus somewhat compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes rather long, first short and somewhat elevated; claws obtuse. Plumage full and rather compact. Wings broad, convex, the inner secondaries elongated and decurved; tail short, rounded.
GENUS I. GRUS, Briss. CRANE
Bill longer than the head, straight, rather slender, but strong, compressed, obtusely pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, a little concave at the middle, slightly declinate toward the tip, the ridge flat and rather broad as far as the middle, the sides sloping, towards the end convex; the nasal sinus narrow, bare, and extending to nearly two-thirds, the edges direct, thick; lower mandible with the angle narrow and very long, the sides perpendicular at the base, the edges thick, the tip narrow and obtuse. Nostrils subbasal, lateral, oblong, large, pervious. Head small, compressed; neck very long and slender; body very large, but compressed. Feet very long; tibia bare to a great extent; tarsus long, stout, moderately compressed, anteriorly covered with broad decurved scutella; toes stout, scutellate, of moderate length, marginate, the first very small and elevated, the fourth webbed at the base. Claws of moderate size, strong, considerably curved, rather compressed, blunted. Plumage imbricated; upper part of head bare. Wings ample, the second, third, and fourth longest, inner secondaries and their coverts curved downwards. Tail short, rounded, of twelve broad, rounded feathers.
315. 1. Grus Americana, Forster. Whooping Crane. – Sand-hill Crane. White Crane. Blue Crane. Brown Crane
Plate CCXXVI. Male. Plate CCLXI. Young.
Adult with the bill dusky green, the feet black, the bare part of the head carmine, the plumage pure white, except the alula, primaries, and primary coverts, which are brownish-black. Young with the bill and feet brownish-black, the bare part of the head carmine, but less extended, the plumage bluish-grey, the feathers margined with yellowish-brown, chin and sides of head greyish-white, primary quills and coverts dark brown towards the end, with brownish-white shafts.
Male
, 54, 92.
From Texas to North Carolina during autumn and winter, and across to the Rocky Mountains. Breeds from Upper California northward to the Arctic Regions, from which it removes southward early in autumn. Abundant in Georgia and Florida, and from thence to Texas.
Whooping Crane, Ardea Americana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 20.
Grus Americana, Bonap. Syn. p. 302.
Grus Americana, Whooping Crane, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 372. Adult.
Grus canadensis, Brown Crane, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 273.
Whooping Crane, Grus Americana, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 34. Adult.
Brown Crane, Grus canadensis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 38. Young.
Whooping Crane, Grus Americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 202, Adult; p. 441, Young.
FAMILY XXXV. CHARADRIINÆ. PLOVERS
Bill short, straight, subcylindrical, obtusely pointed; upper mandible, with its dorsal line straight for half its length, afterwards convex; nasal groove bare, extended along two-thirds of the length of the bill. Head of moderate size, rather compressed, rounded in front. Eyes large. Neck rather short; body ovate, rather full. Plumage soft, blended, somewhat compact above; wings long, pointed, with the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, somewhat rounded, or with the middle feathers projecting, of twelve feathers. Œsophagus of moderate width; stomach roundish, compressed, very muscular, with the epithelium dense and rugous; intestine rather long, and of moderate width; with rather long cœca. A single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, shallow; eggs generally four, large, pyriform, spotted. Young densely covered with down, and able to walk immediately after birth.
GENUS I. CHARADRIUS, Linn. PLOVER
Bill short, or as long as the head, straight, rather stout, somewhat compressed, pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, and slightly declinate for at least half its length, then bulging a little, and arched to the tip, which is rather acute, the sides flat and sloping at the base, convex towards the end, where the edges are sharp and inclinate; nasal groove extended to half the length, and bare; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the sides at the base erect and nearly flat, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the edges sharp and involute towards the tip, which is narrow and rather pointed. Nostrils subbasal, linear, open, and pervious. Eyes rather large. Head of moderate size, roundish, the forehead much rounded; neck rather short; body ovate, rather full. Feet rather long, slender; tibia bare for a considerable space; tarsus rather compressed, covered all round with reticulated hexagonal scales; toes of moderate length, slender, scutellate, second shorter than fourth, first wanting or rudimentary; anterior toes broadly marginate, webbed at the base. Claws small, compressed, slightly arched, rather acute. Plumage soft, blended, the feathers broad and rounded. Wings long and pointed, the primaries tapering, the first longest; inner secondaries tapering and elongated. Tail rather short, or of moderate length, rounded, of twelve rounded feathers. Tongue tapering, grooved above; œsophagus of moderate width; proventriculus oblong; stomach roundish, very muscular, its lateral and inferior muscles prominent, epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous; intestine rather long and of moderate width; cœca rather long.
316. 1. Charadrius Helveticus, Linn. Black-bellied Plover. – Bull-head. Ox-eye
Plate CCCXXXIV. Male and Young.
An extremely diminutive hind toe; bill and feet black. In summer, the upper parts variegated with black, yellowish-brown, and white, the feathers being tipped with the latter; forehead yellowish-white, the rest of the head and hind neck greyish-white, spotted with dusky; hind part of rump, upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers white, transversely barred with brownish-black, the tail tipped with white, and having four dark bars on the middle feathers, and seven or eight on the outer webs of the rest; primary quills and coverts brownish-black, the latter terminally margined with white; shafts of the primaries about the middle, and part of the inner webs toward the base, white; inner six with a white patch on the outer web toward the base, and margined with white externally; outer secondary feathers white at the base, and margined with the same; inner dusky, with marginal triangular white spots; a narrow ring round the eye, and a broad longitudinal band on each side of the neck, together with the abdomen and lower tail-coverts, white; loral space, cheeks, fore par