Widmann — A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 59 



along the large rivers ; arrives from the last of March to the end 

 of April and remains to the latter part of October. Specimens 

 in the collections of Dr. D. T. Kizer of Springfield and Mr. J. D. 

 Kastendieck of Billings were taken in Greene and Christian 

 counties in the Ozark border region and Mr. Philo W. Smith, Jr. 

 of Eureka Springs reports this species as a rare breeder in the 

 White River valley along our southern boundary (1906). Young 

 were seen as early as June 1, 1905, at Mudlake, St. Charles Co. 



*212. Rallus virginianus Linn. Virginia Rail. 

 Little Red-breasted Rail. 



Geog. Dist. — From Central America and Cuba to New Bruns- 

 wick, Ontario and Manitoba; on the Pacific coast to British 

 Columbia. Breeds throughout its range in the United States, 

 but chiefly northward. Winters in the South Atlantic and 

 Gulf States, Mexico and CaUfornia. 



In Missouri the Virginia Rail is a fairly common transient visi- 

 tant in spring, occurring not only in the marshes of the larger 

 rivers, but in wet places of the Prairie and Ozark border regions. 

 It may be found all through April and early May (earhest date 

 March 31, 1887, St. Louis; latest May 19, Warrensburg). It 

 has been found breeding in Clark Co. by Mr. E. S. Currier. 

 There is no record of its occurrence in fall. 



*214. PoRZANA CAROLINA (Linn.). Sora. 



Rallus carolinus. Ortygometra Carolina. Common Rail. Ortolan. Car- 

 olina Crake. 



Geog. Dist. — From northern South America and the West 

 Indies to British Provinces (rarely to Greenland) ; in the West 

 to lat. 55°; in the Mackenzie River region. Breeds chiefly north 

 of lat. 38°, and winters from the South Atlantic and Gulf States 

 southward. 



In Missouri a common transient visitant in all parts of the state, 

 the Ozarks not excepted. Some may be found as early as April 

 1, but they are most plentiful and generally distributed during 

 the second half of April, and in the north to the middle of May. 

 Fall migration begins early in September and lasts through 

 October (latest November 19, 1893). It has been observed in 

 summer in St. Charles and Howard Co., and nests have been 

 found near Kansas City (ten eggs, Mr. 0. C. Sheley, Independence) 

 and in Clark Co. (Mr. E. S. Currier). 



