CHAPTER XIII. 



THE RAIL, OR SORA. RALLUS CAROLINUS. 

 DESCRIPTION AND NOMENCLATURE. 



HIS somewhat mysterious bird, so well 

 known throughout certain portions of our 

 country under the appellation of rail, 

 sora, or coot, resembles very closely both 

 the water-crake or spotted rail, and the 

 land-rail or corn-crake of England, not 

 only in its habits, but also in its general 

 appearance. There are few, if any, spe- 

 cies of birds in our country that offer more tempting amusement to 

 the young sportsman, or a more agreeable delicacy for the table, 

 than the timid little fowl which now engages our attention. We will 

 detain the reader for a few moments while we transfer to our pages 



an abridged ornithological description of this shy bird, and will 



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