1908] BIRDS. 13 



214. Sora (Porzana Carolina}. Adult and young. The writer re- 

 members very clearly his first experience with this beautiful little bird. 

 In August, 1886,, he was passing through a large cornfield on the head- 

 waters of French Creek in Upshur County. Unexpectedly, a very tame 

 chicken-like bird appeared and ran about among the stalks of corn. 

 It was so fearless and so pretty and so strange that the impression it 

 made will never be forgotten. 



Geog. Dist. Temperate North America. 



W. Ya. Dist. Mr. Sidney Morgan has told me that it is common in 

 May and Jime at Poca Bottoms. 



Nest Breeds in northern IT. S., and as far north as Hudson Bay. 

 Nest on the ground in marshy places. Surber has one W. Va. 

 breeding record. 



Food Insects and vegetable matter. 



218. Purple Gallinule (lonorni-s martinica). This is a beautiful 

 adult specimen. 



Geog. Dist. South Atlantic and Gulf States. 



W. Va. Dist. Mr. W. S. Edwards reports that he collected a speci- 

 men of this richly colored species on Great Kanawha waters some years 

 ago. 



Nest Among rushes near the water. Breeds from southern Illinois 

 southward. 



Food Water insects, &c. 



219. Florida Gallinule (GalUnula galeata). One specimen, adult. 

 Sexes colored alike. 



Geog. Dist. America, from Brazil and Chili to Canada. 



W. Va. Dist. One was taken at Poca Bottoms by Mr. A. Sidney 

 Morgan in 1907. 



Nest In swampy places, on bed of rushes. Eight to thirteen eggs. 

 Breeds as for north as southern Maine. 



Food Insects and vegetable matter about ponds and marshes. 



221. American Coot (Fulica americana). This bird is commonly 

 called "mud-hen". 



Geog. Dist. North America from the West Indies to Greenland 

 and Alaska. 



W. Va. Dist. I have found this species to be very common along 

 the Ohio Eiver and other parts of the state. 



Nest Among reeds in fresh water marshes. Eight to fifteen eggs. 



