WATER BIRDS. 155 
killed at Spectacle Reef Light, Northern Lake Huron, May 14, 1886. 
Throughout the Lower Peninsula it occurs generally wherever the conditions 
are suitable, but apparently it varies greatly in abundance in different 
places, and also at the same place in different years. In most places it 
seems to be less common than the Sora, but occasionally the reverse is true. 
It frequents wetter ground than the King Rail, and I do not remember 
ever to have flushed one in a dry field. The nest is commonly built among 
reeds, rushes, or cattails, and sometimes is only a slight platform of 
dead leaves and grass, while at other times it is a deeply hollowed and 
compact nest around which the growing vegetation has formed a complete 
screen and sometimes even a complete roof. The eggs, 6 to 10 in number, 
are creamy or buffy white rather sparsely spotted with brown. They 
average 1.24 by .94 inches. . 
The food is a mixture of animal and vegetable substances, insects, worms, 
small crustacea, etc., forming the major part during the summer, but 
varied more or less with fruits, seeds, and grains whenever available. The 
bird swims easily, but seldom takes to the open water, preferring to run 
about on floating vegetation or jump from tussock to tussock while feeding, 
and seldom taking wing, at least during the day, unless surprised. The 
flight is feeble and fluttering at first, the heavy legs and feet dangling 
for a considerable distance, but when the bird has gained good headway 
the feet are stretched out behind, in the manner of herons, and the bird 
flies steadily and with considerable speed. It migrates entirely by night, 
and is one of the species frequently killed by flying against telephone and 
telegraph wires and wire fences. It is also frequently picked up under 
electric light towers, where, in company with scores of other migrants, 
it has met death during thick weather. 
This bird is frequently killed by snipe shooters and is considered fair 
eating, although inferior to Wilson’s Snipe. 
William Brewster speaks of the notes of the Virginia Rail heard in May 
and June, as ‘‘a succession of grunting sounds not unlike those of a hungry 
pig. Although by no means loud, they have a penetrating quality which 
makes them carry to a considerable distance.” 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Adult: Head and neck above brownish-black, faintly spotted with light brown; back, 
rump, and upper tail-coverts, black, streaked and spotted with pale brown; sides of head 
bluish ash; a whitish line from bill to upper eye-lid, and edge of lower eye-lid white; chin 
pure white; front of neck and breast cinnamon-brown, paler along the middle of the breast; 
sides and flanks black with narrow white bars; lesser wing-coverts bright chestnut; edge 
of wing white; under tail-coverts mixed black and white. Bill dark above, greenish- 
yellow below; legs and feet greenish; iris red. Sexes alike. Downy young, uniform coal 
black. Length 8.12 to 10.50 inches; wing 3.90 to 4.25; culmen 1.45 to 1.60. 
81. Sora Rail. Porzana carolina (Linn.). (214) 
Synonyms: Carolina Rail, Common Rail, Rail-bird, Ortolan.—Rallus carolinus, Linn., 
1758, Aud., 1835.—Ortygometra carolina, Bonap., 1838, Aud., 1839.—Porzana carolina 
of most recent authors. 
Plate VIII, 
Adult: Readily known by the short, chicken-like bill, black face and 
throat, and barred flanks. The short bill separates it from any other 
common rail. 
