91 



212. Virginia Rail. fe. — le bale de vibqinie. Rallus virginianus. L, 9-50. 

 Smaller than the King Rail but otherwise similar to it. 



Distinctions. Easily distinguished from the King Rail by its smaller size, and from 

 the Sora by its long reddish bill and general coloration. Young birds are overwashed 

 with a considerable amount of black and have often been misidentified as Black Rails. 

 The Black Rail is even smaller than the Yellow Rail (5 • 0) and has a short bill; no Canadian 

 record of the Black Rail rests upon perfectly satisfactory evidence. It may, however, 

 be looked for in the Great Lakes region, especially in the neighbourhood of the St. Clair 

 flats, where there is strong evidence of its occurrence, though a specimen has not yet been 

 secured. 



Field Marks. Size, coloration, long, reddish bill (Figure 23, p. 22), and typical loose 

 rail-flight as it rises from the marsh. 



Nesting. In wet marsh, in nest of grass. 



Distribution. Southern Canada across the continent and north to the present limits 

 of cultivation. Breeds wherever found in Canada. 



This is a far more common Rail than the King and to be expected in 

 almost any marsh or very wet meadow within its range. Its habits do 

 not differ essentially from those of the other Rails. 



Economic Status. Its waste-land habitat precludes its taking anything 

 of economic importance. Its food consists largely of insect life, marsh 

 seeds, and vegetable matter. 



Genus — Porzana. Crake. 



214. Sora Rail, sora, eailbied, caeolina rail. pb. — le bale de la Caroline. 

 Porzana Carolina. L, 8-50. Plate VII A. 



Distinctions. Distinguished from the Virginia Rail by its short conical bill (Figure 25, 

 p. 22) and general coloration; and from the Yellow Rail by larger size and coloration. 



Field Marks. Loose, dangling flight as it rises from the grass, proclaims it a Rail; 

 short bill, general coloration, and lack of white on wings are characteristic of the species. 



Nesting. On the ground in wet marshes, in nest of grass, etc. 



Distribution. Of considerably more northern distribution than the Virginia Rail, 

 but also ranging across the continent; breeding wherever found in Canada. 



In the early days of settlement the Sora Rail was a common game- 

 bird; but the draining of the swamps and the ease with which large bags 

 could at times be made by hunters, have greatly reduced its numbers. 

 On the tidal marshes of some of the Atlantic states it is still regularly 

 hunted in late autumn. This is the best known of our Rails 

 and, though its numbers are greatly diminished from those given in old 

 accounts of travellers, it is still a moderately common bird. It does not need 

 grounds quite as extensive for its habitat as do the King or the Virginia Rails 

 and at times the merest little slough will suffice a pair and their young for 

 the season. 



Economic Status. Not notably different from that of the Virginia 

 Rail. 



Genus — Coturnicops. Yellow Rail. 



215. Yellow Rail. pb. — le bale jaune. Coturnicops noveboracensis. L, 7. A 

 smaller, short-billed Rail, somewhat like the Sora. The coloration is also similar in effect, 

 but the underparts are overwashed with ochraceous and the back feathers are transversed 

 with a few fine white lines instead of being margined by them. It has also prominent 

 white wing-patches that are characteristic of the species. 



Distinctions. Distinguished from the Sora Rail by size and coloration. 

 Field Marks. Size and white wing-patches. 



Nesting. On the ground in damp edges of marshes, in nest of grass. 

 Distribution. More northern than the other Rails, extending considerably beyond the 

 limits of present cultivation; breeding wherever found. 



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