THE CAROLINA RAIL. 583 



Atlantic coast from New England to Florida. It is designated by various names, as Mud-hen, 

 Meadow Rail, Big Rail, etc. Though occasionally found along the muddy shores and tide 

 waters of our large rivers, its principal residence is in the salt marshes. It is a bird of passage, 

 arriving on the coast of New Jersey about the twentieth of April, and retiring again about the 

 last of September." 



The shores of New Jersey seem to be a favorite breeding-place for this species, where they 

 are regarded as being nearly double* in number to any other marsh fowl. It announces its 

 arrival by a harsh and incessant cackling, which resembles that of a guinea fowl. This noise 

 is always greatest during the night, and loudest before a storm. The general aspect of this 

 bird when alive is a remarkable thinness of body. This condition serves them well, as when 

 alarmed it is enabled to rush through the thickly-standing reeds with great facility ; when a 

 fatter, or, rather, a stouter bird, would meet some resistance. In smooth water it swims well, 

 but not fast; sitting high in the water, with neck erect, and striking with great rapidity. 

 When on shore, it runs with neck extended, the tail erect, and frequently flirted up. On fair 

 ground, it runs almost as fast as a man. In a long stretch, it flies witli great velocity, much 

 in the manner of a duck, with extended neck. The flesh of this bird is dry, and is not 

 esteemed. It measures fourteen inches in length, and eighteen in alar extent. The bill is two 

 and a quarter inches long. The sexes are closely similar. 



The Carolina Rail (Porzana car olina), called also Sora, and Ortolan. It inhabits the entire 

 temperate North American continent, and is especially abundant along the Atlantic coast during 

 the migrations. It breeds from the Middle Districts northward. Winters in the Southern States, 

 and beyond. Reaches Venezuela, several West India islands, and northward, Greenland. It is 

 accidental in Europe. In the Mississippi region it is not noticeably abundant. About Great 

 Salt Lake it is rather common. 



Of all our land or water fowl, this bird affords the sportsman more occupation than any 

 other. The Sora, as it is called in the reed swamps of Virginia and Carolina, is esteemed very 

 highly as a table delicacy. For four or live weeks, these birds, during the migrating season, 

 offer excellent sport. 



In habit, this bird is timid, and fond of concealment during the day. It frequents low, 

 marshy grounds, and runs swiftly. It runs with the body near the ground, and makes a turn 

 with astonishing celerity. Its time for exertion is at night, when it comes forth to feed, or in 

 the early morning, uttering the inharmonious cry that characterizes all of the species. This 

 cry is remarkable for its seeming ventriloquial character, appearing to be about four yards off, 

 and again in an opposite direction. 



Early in August, when the reeds along the shore of the Delaware have gotten full growth, 

 the Rails resort to them in great numbers, to feed on the seeds of this plant. They may be 

 heard among the reeds, their voices, in great numbers, resembling the squealing of young- 

 puppies. If a stone be thrown among them, there is a general outcry of 7cuk-7cuk-7cufc, resem- 

 bling, somewhat, the voice of a guinea fowl. Though there may be hundreds of individuals 

 in the reeds near you, there will lie none seen, so completely do they conceal themselves. 

 Indeed, a sort of protective resemblance is noticeable in their plumage, a kind of amber-green, 

 closely resembling the stalks of the reeds. In the fall, when the reeds have ripened, the Rails 

 are very fat from feeding on the seeds. 



This Rail is nine inches long, and fourteen in extent of wing. The males are distinguished 

 by their ashy-blue breasts, and black throats. 



Some singular habits are noticed in most of the species of Rails, that resemble the hys- 

 terical, or epileptic condition. Mr. Orel relates a circumstance : He saw, projecting from a 

 spout in his yard, the legs of a Rail. It was taken indoors, and found to be in perfect health. 

 While it lay quietly, Mr. Ord pointed at it. when it suddenly sprang forward, apparently 

 much irritated, fell to the floor, and, stretching out its legs, and bending its neck until the 

 head nearly touched the back, became to all appearances lifeless. Thinking it had injured 

 itself, he took it up, and it was a considerable length of time before it recovered itself. On the 

 following day, he repeated the experiment, when it suddenly retreated, ruffled its feathers. 



