RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS 81 



to Guatemala and Cuba, breeding- over most of the United States and 

 southern Canada. 



Nest. — In marsh, under shelter of tall grass, composed of dry .-ass. 

 Eggs : 6 to 10, creamy white, spotted with brown and lilac. " 



The Virginia rail is common in almost all suitable marshes, whether 

 salt or fresh throughout the United States, but like all of its short- 

 winged kinc it prefers a game of hide and seek to laborious flight, 

 and is more often heard than seen. If you tr}- to tramp one out of 

 the marsh it will cackle and laugh on the right and then on the left 

 of you, without ever showing itself ; but if you sit quietly on the 

 bank of a grassy, reedy pond or stream where one lives, it will soon 

 come peeking and peering at you between the stems, 



Vernon Bailey. 



GENUS PORZANA. 

 General Characters. — Bill decidedly shorter than tarsus ; sexes similar. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Back with narrow white streaks. 



2. Back streaked loncjitudinally with white . . . Carolina, p. 81. 



2', Back cross-lined with white noveboracensis, p. 82. 



r. Back without white streaks. 



2. Back finely dotted with white jamaicensis, p. 82. 



2'. Back without white markings coturniculus, p. 82. 



Subgenus Porzana. 

 214. Porzana Carolina (!-<««.). Carolina Rail: Sora. 



Adults. — Upper parts olive brown, spotted with black and finely lined 



fwith white ; middle of crown, face, and throat black ; breast 

 and cheeks bluish gray, sides barred black and white ; belly 

 ^Sj ;^^ whitish; middle of lower tail coverts buff. J in mat are : simi- 

 lar to adult but without black face or bluish gray breast. 

 Length: 7.85-9.75, wing 4.15-430, bill .75-.! lO, tarsus 1.25- 

 1.35. 

 Distribution. — Temperate North America from Hudson 

 Bay and Briti.sh Columbia south to northern South America, 

 „.^ oi breeding' over most of its United States and ( 'aiiadi.in range. 



Nest. — Usually on tussock in marsli, made of dry grasses 

 or .sedges. Eggs: usually 7 to 10 but sometimes 14 to 10. grayish olive, 

 spotted with reddish brown and jiurplish. 



Carolina rails are the commonest of their family over the eastern 

 and middle United States, or at least, being more commonly meadow 

 birds, are oftener seen tlian the other species ; but in tlie west they 

 are less common than the Virginia rail. To avoid Hying, when their 

 field is being mowed they will often stay in the fast narrowing strip 

 of grass until they must go or meet the sharp teeth of the siekh'. 

 when perhaps a dozen will ri.se one after another and fly to fresh 

 cover. 



