100 RAILS AND COOT. 



generally- distributed species being our Sora or Carolina 

 Rail, so well known to sportsmen. This bird passes 

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



Porzana Carolina. Massachusetts northward. It returns 

 Plate VII. jj^ August and lingers in our wild-rice 



marshes until October. During the nesting season it 

 has two calls — a whistled, Jeer-wee, and a high, rolling 

 whinny. In the fall it utters a huk 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 bill and on the throat, and have the breast washed 

 with cinnamon. 



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

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

 Clapper EaU which is more common, and the Clap- 

 Saiius 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 cackliag 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 bufEy, speckled eggs are laid, a number which, 

 in connection with the abundance of the bird, has 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 numbers 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, ^'^^^ aquatic. In fact, it is more like 

 Fuiica americana. a Duck in habits than like a Rail, but 

 Plate VIII. j^g pointed, white-tipped biU will pre- 

 vent its being mistaken for one. 



