144 



CRANES, RAILS, AND COOTS 



When a rail flies up out of a marsh or a meadow, you can 

 recognize it by its feeble, fluttering flight, and its hanging 

 legs. Often in alighting it seems to fall helplessly into the 

 tall cover. 



In the wide marshes along the New Jersey shore, dwells 

 a species known as the Sora Rail 1 in numbers sufficiently 



VIRGINIA RAIL. 



numerous to attract gunners. The moment the 'law is 

 off,'' the flat-bottomed boats are brought out, and the fusil- 

 lade begins. With no larger game available, even a small 

 Rail can form an excuse for a day's outing on the marshes, 

 bringing the grip of the gun-stock, the dull "boom' that is 

 music to the desk-weary man, and the welcome smell of gun- 



1 Por-za'na Carolina. Length, about 9 inches. 



