JoxES — On r)iR])s OF Cedar Point. 123 



for tilling, loss tli;iii ton rods from the Oberliu Water Works res- 

 ervoir, ill the suimuer of 1007. The nearest occupied dwelling- 

 house was aiiout twenty rods away. Men with teams were re- 

 inoving earth from a l»ank about three rods from the nest every 

 day. I have found this rail in all of the marshy stream mouths, 

 where the iiest is placed upon a grass tussock, always at least six 

 inches above the water. The peculiar calls of these birds are one 

 of the features of the marshes in summer. In my experience this 

 rail flushes more readily than the Sora. and is inclined to fly far- 

 ther. Judging from the number of birds actually seen, it is the 

 more common. My earliest date for a nest with eggs is May 8, 

 1!)0;3. 

 53. Porzaiia Carolina. — Sora ; Carolina Kail. 



Common in the marshes from the first week in April until the 

 last week of October, and often met with in small marshy or wet 

 fields. It Is pretty closely associated with the last species during 

 the breeding season. I have a suspicion that it is our most com- 

 mon rail, but its reluctaiKc to rise above the vegetation, and its 

 adeptness at dodging and hiding have made actual sight records 

 fewer than of the preceding si)ecies. I have never found specimens 

 of the A'irginia Rail which had been killed by striking wires or 

 other obstructions, but there are a number of such instances of 

 this species being killed in this manner, and that in both seasons 

 of migration. The calls of the Sora are often given in a sort of 

 concert. Perhaps it would be a more accurate description to say 

 that the call of one bird is followed by a wave of calls over the 

 marsh. 



' Kail shooting does not seem to be much practiced hereabouts. 

 Perhaps the extreme ditticulty of getting about in the marshes may 

 prove a serious hindrance to hunters. 



o4. Porzuiui novehoraceusu. — Yellow Rail. 



I'lie only record known to me is that of a live bird l>rouglit in 

 from the marshes and confined in a cage for some days, in the 

 Oberliu College Museum. It finally escaped — with its skin! I am 

 unal)le to give even the ajiproximate date of this record. There is 

 probably little doul)t that it is more or less regular at least in the 

 migrations. 



.")."!. /(jiioniis inu rt illicit . — Purple Gallinule. 



"Professor E. L. .Moscley rei)orts a specimen captured at San- 

 dusky bay. April I's. IS'.x;; Dr. Carl Tiittle, one which had flown 

 against the telegraph wires and was killed, 'along the lake shore,' 

 September li. 1.S!)4 (Auk XII. .101).' ' .Jones, Birds of Ohio, 01. 



."id. dtilliinil'i !i(il(<ilii.--V\oy\{]:\ G;illinnlc. 



"i'he parts of the marsh liiat are covered by vegetation are full 

 of them during the summer. My records indicate that they ar- 



