JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 383 



Genus PORZANA Vieill. 



96. Porzana Carolina (LINN.). 



SORA OR CAROLINA RAIL. 



Distr.: Temperate North America, south to West Indies, Cen- 

 tral America, and northern South 'America. 



Adult: Above, reddish brown, streaked with black and some of 

 the feathers edged with white; flanks and linings of the wings, barred 



Carolina Rail. 



with white and black; abdomen, dull white; a stripe of black passing 

 from the bill down the center of the throat but not reaching the breast; 

 whole of the breast, a cheek patch and superciliary line, slate color; 

 crown, chestnut, with a black stripe through the center; carpus, edged 

 with white; crissum, rufous, shading into whitish. 



Length, 7.75; wing, 4.20; tail, 2; tarsus, 1.38; bill, .75. 



The Carolina Rail is an abundant summer resident in Illinois and 

 Wisconsin, breeding everywhere in suitable localities. The nest is 

 of grass in swampy places. The eggs are from 8 to 14, pale buffy 

 white, spotted and marked with rufous brown, and measure about 

 1.20 x .90 inches. In northern Illinois incubation begins early in May, 

 but is somewhat later in Wisconsin. There is a set of eggs in the Field 

 Museum collection, taken at Goose Lake, Waseca Co., Minnesota, 

 June 3, 1892. 



