WADING BIRDS 



212. VIRGINIA RAIL. Rallus virginianus. 



Range. Temperate North America, breeding 

 from the Middle States and California, northward 

 to British Columbia and Labrador, and wintering 

 along the Gulf coast; most abundant in the east. 



A small Rail, 9 inches 

 long, very similar in 

 markings and colora- ^'' 



tion to the King Rail. 

 It is found chiefly in 

 fresh water swamps, 

 where it builds its nests 

 in tufts of rushes. The 

 eggs number from six 

 to fourteen, and are 





creamy white, or white, 



Creamy white. 



speckled with reddish brown. Size 1.25 x .90 Data. 

 Fighting Island, Detroit River, Michigan, May 

 30, 1904. Nest made of marsh grass, in rushes, 6 

 inches above the water. Collector, E. Leroy King. 



[213.] SPOTTED CRAKE. Porzana porzana. 



This common European species is casually 

 found in Greenland. It breeds in large numbers 

 throughout temperate Europe, nesting as do the 

 American Rails. 



214. SORA. Porzana Carolina. 



Range. Temperate North America, breeding 

 from the southern parts of the British posses- 

 sions, south to the Gulf coast. 



This abundant species of Rail may be readily 

 known by its small size, about eight inches long, 

 and the black face and throat of the adult. These 

 are the "Rail-birds" or "Ortolans" which are an- 

 nually slaughtered by thousands, for sport and marketing, during their fall mi- 

 gration. It is only because of the large families 

 that they rear, that they are able to withstand this ^ * . *> 



yearly decimanation of their ranks. They nest 

 either in salt of fresh water marshes, making a jj^y 

 rude structure of grass, weeds and strips of rushes, 

 on the ground, generally concealed in a tuft of ghass 

 in a tangled swamp or marsh. During May, they 

 lay from six to sixteen eggs of a bright, buffy gray 

 color, spotted with reddish brown and lavender. 

 Size 1.25X.90. Bright buff. 



Sora 

 Virginia Rail. 



133 



