Family Rallide
RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS.
The one hundred and eighty species contained in this family are distributed throughout the greater part of the world, fifteen species inhabiting North America. Rails and Gallinules are not strictly gregarious, but are generally associated through a community of interests; Coots, however, are usually found in flocks. Rails inhabit grassy marshes, in which they seek safety by running or hiding, taking to wing when pursued only as a last resort. Their flight is then short and labored, and with dangling legs they soon drop back into cover. Nevertheless, they perform extended migrations, traveling hundreds of miles without resting. Gallinules live near the marshy borders of bodies of water, while the more aquatic Coots resemble some Ducks in habits. I. Bill over 1.75.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
A. Cheeks below the eye cinnamon-rufous, like the breast; flanks black barred with white; upper parts rich olive-brown streaked with black. 208. KING RAIL.
B. Cheek below the eye gray; flanks generally gray or brownish, barred with white; upper parts generally grayish, streaked with black. 211. CLAPPER RAIL and races.
RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS.
II. Bill under 1.75.
A. Wing over 6.00. a. General color blue, feet yellow . b. General color slaty, feet dark greenish. 218. PURPLE GALLINULE. 61. Toes with large scalloped webs or flaps at the side. 221. Aм. Cooт. b2. Toes without flaps or webs 219. FLORIDA GALLINULE.
B. Wing under 6.00. a. Wing under 3.50. a¹. Back blackish, with small round, white spots 216. BLACK RAIL. a2. Back blackish, barred with white and margined with buffy. b. Wing over 3.50. 61. Bill over 1.00 c1. Bill under 1.00. : * 215. YELLOW RAIL. 212. VIRGINIA RAIL. c2. Wing over 4.50, lesser wing-coverts rufous 217. CORN CRAKE. c3. Wing under 4.50, lesser wing-coverts olive 214. SORA. 208. Rallus elegans Aud. KING RAIL; MARSH HEN. Ad.-Upper parts varying from olive-brown to black, the back and scapulars widely margined with olive-gray; wings and tail olive-brown; wing-coverts rufous; throat white; neck and breast cinnamon-rufous; belly and sides fuscous, sharply barred with white. Downy Young-Glossy black. L., 15.00; W., 6.50; Tar., 2-20; B., 2.40.