RAILS 



(215) Coturnicops novebora= 

 censis 



(Gmel.) (Lat., a quail). 



YELLOW RAIL. Plumage as 

 shown; the feathers everywhere hav- 

 ing a gloss. L., 6.50; W., 3.25; 

 T., 1.50; Tar., .85; B., .50. Nesl 

 — In grassy marshes; six to twelve 

 rich buff-colored eggs, specked with 

 brown in a wreath about the large 

 end, 1. 10 X .80. 



Range — Breeds from Maine and 

 Minn, north to Ungava and Macken- 

 zie. Winters in the Gulf States. 

 (216) Creciscus jamaicensis 



(CmeL) (Lat., crake). 



BLACK RAIL. The smallest and 

 blackest of our rails. Plumage as 

 figured. L., 5.00; W., 2.80; Tar., 

 ■ So; B., .50. 



Range — Breeds from Mass. and 

 Ont. south to S. Car. and Kan. 



Soras, a little fattened by high living upon wild rice, are 

 bagged by gunners and sold with Bobolinks as "ortolans." 



Soras live in the same marshes with Virginia Rails, but 

 they build their nests in wetter portions. These nests are 

 made by piling up reeds and grasses until the top of the mass 

 is a few inches above the water, which is usually a few inches 

 deep at the spot selected. On the hollowed top of this 

 nest, sheltered by the tops of living grasses which are drawn 

 over to form an arch, the dozen or so brownish-spotted eggs 

 are laid. The little chicks are hatched covered with down, 

 glossy jet black, and can follow their mother as soon as they 

 leave the egg. 



When alarmed, both sexes utter a sharp, explosive note, 

 and both have a pleasing whinnying song, sounding much 

 like the trill a woodchuck sometimes utters. 



YELLOW RAILS and that smallest member of the family, 

 the little BLACK RAIL, although found throughout eastern 

 United States, are regarded as of rare occurrence. Possibly 

 they are, and certainly their small size and habits of skulking 



137 



