278 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The green tops of the grasses are gathered together and slightly interwoven 

 above the nest, forming a loosely constructed arbor to shelter the eggs. 

 If the water rises, additions are made from time to time until the structure 

 is several inches in hight. The old bird drags the wet or dead grasses from 



the marsh on to the nest 

 by the same route so that 

 there is frequently a well 

 defined approach rising 

 from the marsh to the 

 summit of the nest. The 

 nest is broad and flat, 

 probably larger in propor- 

 tion to the size of the bird 

 than that of any other of 

 our common species. The 

 eggs are from 8 to 14 in 

 number, larger sets which 

 are sometimes found 

 probably being the laying 

 of two birds. The eggs 

 are darker in color than 

 the Virginia rail's, of a 

 strong buffy drab ground- 

 color and blunter at the 

 small end, but spotted 

 much like those of other 

 rails. They average 1.22 

 X .9 inches. 



Like other rails the young are covered with a jet-black down with a 

 tuft of orange bristles on the throat and leave the nest soon after hatching. 

 On several occasions, I have come upon a Sora's nest when the young were 

 hatching and some were still wet from the shell, but even these would follow 

 their mother from the nest and start to wade or swim off and hide amid the 

 grass. It is an interesting sight when a Sora like a diminutive hen is sur- 



Sora's nest and egKs 



Photo by C. F. Stone 



