ize 1.75
x 1.25. Data.--Palo Alto, Cal., May 1, 1899. Nest of marsh grass under a
small bush on bank of slough. Collector, Ernest Adams.

[Illustration 133: Cream color.]
[Illustration: Light buff.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 132

211. CLAPPER RAIL. _Rallus crepitans crepitans._

Range.--Salt marshes of the Atlantic coast from southern New England
southward.

A grayish colored Rail, about the size of, and with the markings similar
to those of the King Rail. It is as exclusively a salt water species as
the King Rail is a fresh water one. With the possible exception of the
Carolina or Sora Rail, this is the most abundant of all the Rails,
hundreds nesting in a single marsh on the South Atlantic coast. Their
nests are built of rushes and weeds, and are placed on the ground either
in the tall grass bordering the marshes or attached to the rushes in the
midst of the marsh. The nesting season commences during April and
continues through May. They lay from six to fourteen eggs, of a buff
color spotted irregularly with brown and gray. Size 1.70 x 1.20.

211a. LOUISIANA CLAPPER RAIL. _Rallus crepitans saturatus._

The habitation of this subspecies is limited to the coast of Louisiana.
It is very similar to the proceeding but is said to be brighter in
plumage.

211b. FLORIDA CLAPPER RAIL. _Rallus crepitans scotti._

Range.--Western coast of Florida.

This bird is also similar to crepitans but is much darker and brighter.

211c. WAYNE'S CLAPPER RAIL. _Rallus crepitans waynei_.

Range.--South Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Florida.

This subspecies is a little darker than crepitans, being about midway
between that species and Rallus scotti. The nests and eggs of any of
these sub-species cannot be distinguished from those of the common
Clapper Rail.

211.2. CARIBBEAN CLAPPER RAIL. _Rallus longirostris caribaeus._

Range.--West Indies and east coast of Mexico, north to southern Texas.

This species is similar to the Clapper, but has a shorter and relatively
stouter bill.

[Illustration 134: King Rail. Clapper Rail.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 133

212. VIRGINIA RAIL. _Rallus virginianus._

Range.--Temperate North America, breeding from the Middle States and
California, northward to British Columbia and Labrador, and wintering
along the Gulf coast; most abundant in the east.

A small Rail, 9 inches long, very similar in markings and coloration