Despite numerous occurrences of the Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) in central coastal California, there is still no documented nesting record for the species in the State north of Ventura County (Wilbur 1974). Because nearly all historical records of Black Rails in central California have been in fall or winter months, certain authorities (Bent 1926, AOU 1957) have stated or implied that the species winters north of its breeding range.
The large egg collection of the late Henry A. Snow, formerly housed at the Snow Museum in Oakland, was transferred to the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology by the Oakland Museum in 1976. While recently curating this collection, I found a set of eggs taken by Snow on 10 April 1911 at Newark, Alameda Co., California. Snow identified the eggs as belonging to the “Little Yellow Rail.” The data slip accompanying the set also bears the AOU number, 215, of the Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis).