^°Mif ^"^1 Harlow, Breeding Birds of Center County, Pa. 469 



Rail usually builds over deeper water. Sets are usually complete by 

 June 1, and the female commences incubation with the first egg laid. 



3. Porzana Carolina. Sora. — Regular and apparently more common 

 summer resident than the Virginia Rail, in the same swamp. The Sora 

 Rail usually builds several nests which are either used as shams or 

 abandoned before the eggs are laid. The following occupied nests have 

 been found. 



Ten fresh eggs. 

 One fresh egg. 



Six hatching eggs, three newly hatched Rails. 

 Eleven far incubated eggs. 

 Nine far incubated eggs. 

 Twelve fresh eggs. 

 In 1911 the birds were seen in their usual numbers but no search was 

 made for their nests. 



4. Philohela minor. Woodcock. — Regular and fairly common sum- 

 mer resident in the swampy bottomlands in the mountains. Has been 

 noted throughout every breeding season in the vicinity of Stone Valley 

 and Bear Meadows. April 29, 1911, Mr. White and I observed four male 

 Woodcocks giving their aerial flight song in the twihght near Stone Valley. 

 The locality was in the bottom-lands of Laurel Run which are largely 

 covered with second growth. Mr. Douglas Spencer found a female with 

 four newly hatched young in this vicinity, May 15, 1911. 



5. Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandpiper. — Common summer 

 resident; found about all creeks and bodies of water in the open country, 

 but usually nesting back from the water in cultivated fields or bushy 

 pastures. 



6. Oxyechus vociferus. Killdeer. — The same remarks apply to 

 this species though it is usually more noticeable than the Spotted Sand- 

 piper. Nests almost entirely back from the water in the cultivated fields. 



7. Bonasa umbellus umbellus. Ruffed Grouse. — An abundant 

 permanent resident throughout the mountains and also found commonly 

 in the Barrens. During late April, the drumming may be heard throughout 

 the day in these localities and the birds are frequently flushed. Though 

 the birds are abundant, but two nests have come to my notice. One of 

 these was found by a student while trout fishing near Pine Grove and held 

 ten hatching eggs on May 23, 1910. The other was found by Mr. David 

 narrower and held six fresh eggs in June, 1911. 



8. Meleagris gallopavo silvestris. Wild Turkey. — Regular and 

 tolerably common permanent resident, though rarely seen. I have ob- 

 served Wild Turkeys or their tracks in the Barrens, near Stone Valley and 

 along Mount Nittany, and the birds breed in all these locahties. They 

 are reputed to be fairly common near Buffalo run in Patton township and 

 the farmers tell me that they frequently see the young in company with 

 the parent feeding in the open fields near the woods. 



9. Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. Mourning Dove. — Quite 



