1004 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



0.\ THE FENCE 



This Virginia rail is about to carry its young out of the enclosure. Note 

 the short rounded wings. 



coast are somewhat browner than those of the .Atlantic 

 marshes and constitute a separate species. 



The sora rail or sora is about the size of the Virginia 

 rail but is more olive in general color with grayer under- 

 parts. Its bill is much shorter and heavier and is bright 



IS THE COAST CLEAR? 

 A Sora rail sneaking up to its nest in the marsh grasses. 



yellow in color. Indeed the bill is the most conspicuous 

 part of the bird. Often when the sora is Hushed, the 

 bill is the best mark by which to distinguish it from the 

 Virginia rail. In habits the two birds are very similar 

 being equally difficult to discover and when finally Hush- 

 ed, both fly but a short distance with dangling legs and 

 apparently feeble wings before dropping again into the 

 marsh. It is practically impossible to flush either species 



a second time. Indeed on one occasion when the writer 

 was tramping through a rather extensive marsh, his 

 attention was attracted by a yellow spot close against the 

 water. Looking more closely, he discovered a sora rail 

 crouching low and expecting to be passed unnoticed. So 

 completely did it rely upon its protective coloration, that 

 it permitted itself to be touched before it attempted to 

 escape. The eggs of the sora rail are darker in ground 



CARRYING HER BABY 



The Virginia rail has picked up one of its youngsters by the leg and is 

 hastening its departure from the vicinity of the camera. 



color than the X'irginia's and the downy young are 

 ornamented with a tuft of orange whiskers on the chin 

 and a brilliant red cere like a ball of red sealing wax 

 above the bill. 



There are two other rails found in the United States 

 and Canada but both are rare. The yellow rail is some- 



••VVHOSE BI..\( K BAHY .\KK Yi_)U?- 

 A young Florida gallinule only a few hours old. 



