100 RAILS AND COOT. 



in 



generally distributed species being our Sora or Carolina 

 Kail, so well known to sportsmen. This bird passes 

 ^^^ us in the spring in April and nests from 



furzana curoiiiia. Massachusetts northward. It returns 

 Plate VII. jj^ August and lino;ers in our wild-rice 



marshes until October. During the nesting season it 

 lias two calls — a whistled, ker-ioee, and a high, rolling 

 wldibnij. In the fall it utters a huh or peep when dis- 

 turbed. 



There is no sexual difference in color in this species, 

 but birds of the year lack the black about the base of 

 the 1)ill and on the throat, and have the breast washed 

 with cinnamon. 



Our other species of Eail are the King, Yellow, and 

 Little Black Rail, all of which are rare ; the Virginia Rail, 

 Clapper Eail which is more common, and the Clap- 



Raiius crepitans. per Rail or Marsh Hen, an abundant 

 Plate VIII. species in some of the salt marshes 



along our coasts from Long Island southward. It is a 

 noisy bird with a peculiar cackling call which it utters 

 in a way that suggests the sound produced by some auto- 

 matic toys. 



Its nest is made of dried grasses, the surrounding 

 marsh grass being slightly arched over it. Eight to 

 twelve buffy, speckled eggs are Ittid, a number which, 

 in connection with the abundance of the bird, lias led to 

 the persistent robbing of its nests by men who sell the 

 eggs for food. As a result of this practice the birds 

 have greatly decreased in numliers during recent years. 



The Coot, Mud-hen, or Crow-duck differs from the 

 Rails in having lobed toes (see Fig. 12) and in being 

 American Coot, '"oi'® aquatic. ^ Li fact, it is more like 

 FuUca aiiicriraaa. a Duck in habits than like a Rail, but 

 Plato viii. j^g pointed, white-tipped bill -will pre- 



vent its Ijoing mistaken for one. 



