THE ORNITHOLOGISTS’ AND OOoLOGISTsS’ SEMI-ANNUAL. 
37 
eggs we walk along to Flamborough Head. On our way we startle 
several Wheatears from rabbit burrows, and find three nests made of 
feathers and rabbits’ fur, built from one to two feet inside the bur- 
row, and containing five or six eggs each, of a pale blue color, like 
those of the Bluebird. We also startle a Meadow Pipit or Titlark 
from its nest of four eggs (dusky-brown, freckled with dark brown), 
built on the ground. 
After visiting the Light House at Flamborough Head, and the 
wonderful caverns, we return home much pleased with our visit to 
the home of the “Sea Birds.” 
THE COMMON OR SORA RAIL. 
Porzana carolina. 
BY C. C. MAXFIELD, WILLARD, N. Y. 
This Rail is very little known on account of its skulking habits ; it 
being very difficult to get one to rise from the ground. Another 
reason, that may be cited, is that they choose as a home and nesting 
place, a low, swampy swale ; which, in nearly all cases, is partially or 
entirely covered with water, and thick undergrowth is so interlaced as 
to make it very difficult to move about in search of them. 
The bird itself is small: length, about 8 1-8 inches ; wing, 4 2-32 
inches ; tail, about 2 inches; bill, from 1-2 to 2-3 inches and the 
tarsus slightly over 1 inch. The upper parts are greenish-brown, 
with numerous black and white streaks and specks; belly, whitish ; 
throat, light slate color; bill, light yellow, and legs and feet light 
green. 
My first specimen was taken very late in the Autumn of 1883, while 
hunting ducks on Ox Creek, Oswego Co. Owing to the lateness of 
the season, I was much surprised to take this one ; but after securing 
the specimen, the absence of the left wing fully explained matters. 
The feathers of the left side lay smoothly, and at a short distance 
the loss of the wing could not be noticed. About a half-inch of the 
humerous still remained covered by skin, :but no feathers. On dis- 
section, the bone appeared cracked and broken at the end. 
