296 GAME BIBDS OF CALIFORNIA 



By some, the Virginia Rail is adjudged a delicious bird for the 

 table, but it is of small size, not nearly as big as a Valley Quail. Where 

 this species is abundant no skill whatever is required to kill a large 

 number. For both these reasons it cannot be considered as important 

 a game bird from the sportsman's point of view as its larger relative, 

 the Clapper Rail. Snipe. shooters often get a chance to shoot Virginia 

 Rails, but seldom do so, and there are few men in this state who pur- 

 posely pursue these birds either for food or for sport. 



This Rail has seldom been seen in the markets of California cities, 

 and the small amount of shooting it has received has permitted it 

 pretty well to hold its own. Even if hunted to a greater extent in 

 the future than at present, the species M'ould have a good chance to 

 survive in numbers because of its generally seelusive habits. 



Sora Rail 



Porzana Carolina (Linnaeus) 



Other n^^mes — Common Eail; Carolina Rail. 



Description — Adults, both sexes: Top of head olive brown, with median 

 stripe of black; sides of head and neck, with extension above eye to forehead, 

 lead color; whole face (that is, area between eye and bill, continuous across 

 forehead) and a longitudinal stripe down chin, throat, and foreneek, black; 

 iris "brown"; bill "greenish yellow (more orange, especially at base in 

 summer adults)" (Baird, Brewer and Eidgway, 1884, I, p. 370); upper surface 

 olive brown, continuous up hind neck to top of head; back streaked broadly 

 with black, and narrowly lined with white; outer upper tail coverts narrowly 

 barred, black and white; tail feathers black, broadly margined with olive 

 brown; outer surface of closed wing and flight feathers, nearly uniform olive 

 brown, but with innermost secondaries and tertials showing white lines like 

 back; breast lead color; sides, flanks, axillars, and under surface of wing 

 conspicuously barred with brownish slate and white; belly and central under 

 tail coverts creamy white; under tail coverts otherwise pale buff; legs and 

 feet greenish. Males: Total length 8.50-9.37 inches (216-237 mm.) (seven 

 specimens from California and eastern states) ; folded wing 3.97-4.42 (101.0- 

 112.4); bill along culmen 0.75-0.89 (19.0-22.7); tarsus 1.24-1.44 (31.6-36.7) 

 (ten specimens from California). Females: Total length 8.00-8.97 (203-228) 

 (four specimens from eastern states); folded wing 3.90—4.10 (99.0-104.2); bill 

 along culmen 0.71-0.73 (18.0-18.7); tarsus 1.18-1.29 (30.0-32.8) (three speci- 

 mens from California); weight 1.7 oz. (48 gm.) (one specimen from California). 

 Juvenile plumage: Similar to that of adult, but with black and slaty areas on 

 head and throat nearly or quite wanting; sides of head and forehead dull 

 buffy brown; top of head duller olive brown, with narrow or interrupted black 

 stripe; chin and throat whitish; rest of neck, and breast, light buffy brown. 

 Natal plumage: "Bill short, . . . high at base, rapidly tapering, the tip 

 deflected. The whole body densely covered with dull black down, beyond 

 which are produced abundant long, glossy, black hair-like filaments. Upon the 

 throat is a tuft of stiff, coarse, bristle-like feathers of a bright orange-color. 

 These are directed forward, and give the bird a most singular appearance" 

 (Brewster, 1879, p. 46). 



