BIRDS OF MARSHALL COUNTY 143 



vember 3, 1913, along Iowa river. During the first two weeks in 

 September of 1913 and 1914 a small flock of these birds formed 

 a roost in a clump of trees between the Goose ponds and Iowa 

 river. They remained until September 12, 1913, and to Septem- 

 ber 22, 1914. 



34. Grus mexicana. Sandhill Crane. According to the older 

 hunters this bird was formerly common in this region. It is now 

 rare and the only definite record that the writer has is of a 

 flock of thirty-five seen April 1, 1913. 



35. Balliis elegans. King Rail. Owing to the scarcity of 

 suitable nesting sites this bird was a rare summer resident. An 

 adult followed by a single downy young crossed the road in 

 front of the writer near IMormons Ridge on July 13, 1915. A 

 hunter told of seeing an adult and young in a bit of swampy 

 land near the Country Club on July 25, 1915. On July 27 this 

 spot was visited and an adult and eight downy young were found. 

 These are the only records the writer has for the county. 



36. Porzana caroHna. Sora Rail. The sora is toleralily com- 

 mon as a spring migrant from May 3 to May 24. On May 22, 

 1915, ten birds were seen, which was the greatest number ob- 

 served on one day. One was collected on ]\Iay 17, 1913, at the 

 Groose ponds and one was brought in which had been picked up 

 along Linn creek on May 12. In the fall it was seen twice, a 

 single bird September 18, 1914, and three September 22, 1914. 



37. Gallinida galeata. Florida Gallinule. A rare migTant in 

 both spring and fall. One was collected out of a flock of coots on 

 May 4, 1914, at the Goose ponds. One was seen in the same, 

 place October 17, 1914. This bird probably occurred more fre- 

 cjuently, but escaped notice. . 



38. Fulica americana. Coot. A common spring migrant from 

 March 25 to May 24 and less common in the fall from September 

 22 to November 1. Coots were regularly shot by gunners and 

 left lying along the hanks of the river. Consequently they were 

 seldom seen in any numbers except in 1914, when flocks of from 

 ten to fifty were seen between April 11 and ^lay 16. One taken 

 October 12, 1913, is in the collection. 



39. Steganopus tricolor. Wilson Phalarope. A pair was 

 noted feeding on the mud flats at the Goose ponds ]\Iay 2, 1914, 

 and the male was collected. They were feeding m company with 



