RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS 235 



th3 dull-colored, motionless forms in places where one would not sup- 

 pose there was sufficient growth to conceal them. 



Floating silently near the shore on my back in a canoe, I have seen 

 them venture out to feed. With tails erect they step gingerly along, 

 evidently aware of their exposed position, for on the least alarm they 

 dart back to cover. Sometimes they cross small streams by swim- 

 ming, and they are expert divers. 



In the fall they gather in the wild-rice or wild-oat (Zizania aquat- 

 ica) marshes, and a well-directed stone or unusual noise may bring a 

 series of protesting interrogative kuks or peeps from the apparently 

 deserted reeds. At this season "gunners" in small flat-bottomed boats 

 are poled through the flooded meadows, and the Soras, waiting until 

 the last moment, rise on feeble wing a mark which few can miss. 

 Numerous puffs of smoke float over the tall grasses, and the dull reports 

 come booming across the marsh with fateful frequency. 



The SPOTTED CRAKE (213. Porzana porzana) an Old World representa- 

 tive of our Sora is recorded as "occasional in Greenland." 



215. Coturnicops noveboracensis (GmeL). YELLOW RAIL. (Fig. 

 39, 6.) Ads. Upperparts black, the feathers bordered with ochraceous-buff 

 and with from one to three narrow white bars; breast ochraceous-buff; mid- 

 dle of the belly white; sides and lower belly black or brownish, barred with 

 white. L., 7-00; W., 3'40; Tar., '95; B., '52. 



Range. Chiefly e. N. A. Breeds from s. Mackenzie, cen. Keewatin, 

 and s. Ungava s. to Minn, and Maine; winters in the Gulf States, rarely 

 in Calif., Ills., and N. C.; casual in Nev., Utah, and Bermuda. 



Washington, rare T. V., Mch.-Apl. 14; Oct. 4-Nov. 12. Long Island, rare, 

 probably S. R. Cambridge, rare T. V., in fall. N. Ohio, rare S. R. SE. Minn., 

 rare, May 14-Sept. 24. 



Nest, on the ground in grassy marshes. Eggs, 6-10, creamy buff, densely 

 sprinkled and speckled on larger end with rusty brown, 1*12 x '83 (Ridgw.). 

 Date, Winnebago, Ills., May 17. 



This little Rail inhabits marshes with others of its family. It seems 

 to know that it can escape its enemies much more easily by hiding in 

 the tangled grasses of its home than by taking wing, and it flies only 

 to avoid actual capture. It can be hunted successfully, therefore, only 

 with dogs. 



Nuttall describes its notes as "an abrupt and cackling cry, 'krek, 

 } krek, 'krek, 'krek, 'kuk, 'k'kh," and compares them to the croaking of 

 the tree frog, while a captive bird in the possession of J. H. Ames uttered 

 a scolding kik-kik-kik-kik-queah. (Auk, XIX, p. 94.) 



216. Creciscus jamaicensis (Gmel). LITTLE BLACK RAIL. (Fig. 14.) 

 Ads. Head, breast and upper belly slate-color; lower belly and wings 

 brownish black, barred or spotted with white; nape dark reddish brown. 

 L., 5-00; W., 2-80; Tar., '80; B., '60. 



Range. E. N. Am. Breeds from s. Ont. and Mass. s. to Kans., Ills., 

 and S. C.; winters from Tex. e. through the Gulf States and s. to Jamaica 

 and Guatemala; casual in Bermuda. 



Washington, rare, May, June, Sept. Long Island, rare, probably S. R. 

 N. Ohio, rare S. R. 



Nest, of grasses, on the ground in marshes. Eggs, 8-10, white, thinly 



