Tin: I-M;OII\\ I;MI. Ml 



Atlantic rd.-i.st from New Kndand i.. I-Morida. It is designated by various names, as Mud li.-n. 

 Meadow Kail, Big Rail. etc. Thou-h IN -casjonally found along the mudd\ shores ; ,nd ti I- 

 wafer- f "in laii:e riier, its |>rinri|>al residence is in the salt mar-hes It is a liinl of pSBMgn, 

 urrii in:: on the coast of N- u .' i-cy aUmt the t\M-nti.-tli of April. :m<l retiring again about the 

 last i>f S-ptember." 



The shore* <>f New .leraey seem to be a favorite breeding-place for this species, where they 

 are regarded aa being nearly double in numl>er to any ..th.-r marsh fowl. It announces its 

 arriial l>y a har-h ami inoeaaant cackling, which resembles thai of a guinea fowl. Thin noie 

 is always greatest during the niirht, and loudest before a Htorm. The general aspect of this 

 biid when alive is a remarkable thtnnnsn of body. This condition serves them well, as when 

 alarmed it in enabled to rush through the thickly-standing reeds with great facility; when a 

 fatter, or, rather, a MOUNT l>ird, would meet some resistance. In smooth water it swim? well, 

 but not f:-st ; sitting high in the, water, with neck mvt. and striking with great ni|>i<lity. 

 When on shore, it runs with neck extended, the tail erect, and frequently tlirted up. On fair 

 ground, it runs almost a- f:it as a man. In a long stn-trh. it tlit-s with great velocity, much 

 in the manner of a duck, with ext-nil.-<l m-rk. The flesh of this bird is dry, and is not 

 esteemed. It measures fourteen inrhes in l.-ngth, and eighteen in alar extent. The bill is two 

 and a quarter inches long. The sexes are closely similar. 



THE CAROLINA RAIL (Parzana Carolina), called also Sora, and Ortolan. It inhabits the entire 

 t-mjK>rate North American continent, and is especially abundant, along tin- A tlantic coast during 

 tin- migrations. It breeds from the Middle Districts north ward. Winters in the Southern States, 

 and !> mid. Reaches Venezuela, several \\Yst India islands, and north ward, Greenland. It is 

 accidental in Kurope. In the Mississippi region it is not noticeably abundant. About Great 

 Salt I-ike it is rather common. 



Of all our land or water fowl, this l>ird affords the sportsman more occupation than any 

 other. The Sora, as it is called in the reed swamps of Virginia and Carolina, is esteemed very 

 highly as a tnl>le delicacy. For four or five weeks, these birds, during the migrating season, 



otfel excellent Sport. 



In haliit. this bird is timid, and fond of concealment during the day. It frequents low, 

 iy grounds, and runs swiftly. It runs with the body near the ground, and makes a turn 

 with astoiiNiiiiL: celerity. Its time for exertion is at niulit, when it comes forth to feed, or in 

 the early morning, interim: the inharmonious cry that characterizes all of the sjx-cies. Thin 

 cry i- i- inarkable for its seeming veiitril<Npiial character, appearing to be about four yards off, 

 and again in an opposite direction. 



Early in August, when the reeds along the shore of the Delaware have gotten full growth, 

 the Rails resort to them in great numbers, to feed on the seeds of this plant. They may be 

 heard amoiii: the reeds, their voices, in great numU-rs, resembling the squealing of \omm 

 puppies. If a stone be thrown ainoni: them, there is a general outcry of knk kuk-knk, resem- 

 bling, somewhat, the \oiceofaguinea fowl. Though then- maybe hundreds of individuals 

 in the reeds near you, there will be none seen, so completely do they conceal themselves. 

 lnd.-.-d. a sort of protective resemblance is noticeable in their plumage, a kind of amber-green, 

 closely resembling the stalks of the reeds. In the fall, when the redds have ripened, the Hails 

 are very fat from feeding on the seed-. 



This Kail is nine indies ]oii_', and fourteen in extent of wing. The males are distinguished 

 by their ashy-blue breasts, and black throats. 



Some singular habits m-e noticed in most of the species of Rails, that resemble the hys- 

 terical, or epileptic condition. Mr. Ord relates a circumstance: He saw, projecting from a 

 spout in his yard, the 1, .^s of a Kail. It was taken indoors, and found to be in perfect health. 

 While it lay quietly. Mr. <>rd Dinted at it. when it suddenly sprang forward, apion-titly 

 much irritated, fell to the floor, and. stn-tchinir out its legs, and bending its ned. until the 

 head nearly touched the back, became t.. all appearances lifeless. Thinking it had injured 

 itself, he took it up. and it was a considerable Mi-th of time before it recovered itoelf. On th 

 following day, he repeated the experiment, when it suddenly retreated, ruffled ito feathers. 



