WATER BIRDS. 155 



killed at Spectacle Reef Light, Northern Lake Huron, May 14, 1886. 

 Throughout the Lower Peninsula it occurs generally wherever the conditions 

 are suitable, but apparently it varies greatly in abundance in different 

 places, and also at the same place in different years. In most places it 

 seems to be less common than the Sora, but occasionally the reverse is true. 



It frequents wetter ground than the King Rail, and I do not remember 

 ever to have flushed one in a dry field. The nest is commonly built among 

 reeds, rushes, or cattails, and sometimes is only a slight platform of 

 dead leaves and grass, while at other times it is a deeply hollowed and 

 compact nest around which the growing vegetation has formed a complete 

 screen and sometimes even a complete roof. The eggs, 6 to 10 in number, 

 are creamy or buffy white rather sparsely spotted with brown. They 

 average 1.24 by .94 inches. 



The food is a mixture of animal and vegetable substances, insects, worms, 

 small Crustacea, etc., forming the major part during the summer, but 

 varied more or less with fruits, seeds, and grains whenever available. The 

 bird swims easily, but seldom takes to the open water, preferring to run 

 about on floating vegetation or jump from tussock to tussock while feeding, 

 and seldom taking wing, at least during the day, unless surprised. The 

 flight is feeble and fluttering at first, the heavy legs and feet dangling 

 for a considerable distance, but when the bird has gained good headway 

 the feet are stretched out behind, in the manner of herons, and the bird 

 flies steadily and with considerable speed. It migrates entirely by night, 

 and is one of the species frequently killed by flying against telephone and 

 telegraph wires and wire fences. It is also frequently picked up under 

 electric light towers, where, in company with scores of other migrants, 

 it has met death during thick weather. 



This bird is frequently killed by snipe shooters and is considered fair 

 eating, although inferior to Wilson's Snipe. 



William Brewster speaks of the notes of the Virginia Rail heard in May 

 and June, as "a succession of grunting sounds not unlike those of a hungry 

 pig. Although by no means loud, they have a penetrating quahty which 

 makes them carry to a considerable distance." 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult: Head and neck above brownish-black, faintly spotted with light brown; back, 

 rump, and upper tail-coverts, black, streaked and spotted with pale brown; sides of head 

 bluish ash; a whitish line from bill to upper eye-lid, and edge of lower eye-lid white; chin 

 pure white; front of neck and breast cinnamon-brown, paler along the middle of the breast; 

 sides and flanks black with narrow white bars; lesser wing-coverts bright chestnut; edge 

 of wing white; under tail-coverts mixed black and white. Bill dark above, greenish- 

 yellow below; legs and feet greenish; iris red. Sexes alike. Downy young, uniform coal 

 black. Length 8.12 to 10.50 inches; wing 3.90 to 4.25; culmen.1.45 to 1.60. 



81. Sora Rail. Porzana Carolina (Linn.). (214) 



Synonyms: Carolina Rail, Common Rail, Rail-bird, Ortolan. — Rallus carolinus, Linn., 

 1758, And., 1835. — Ortygometra Carolina, Bonap., 1838, Aud., 1839. — Porzana Carolina 

 of most recent authors. 



Plate VIII. 



Adult: Readily known by the short, chicken-like bill, black face and 

 throat, and barred flanks. The short bill separates it from any other 

 common rail. 



