THE GOIiltECTORS' JHOJlTHliY. 



Devoted to Otmitrioloy, Oology and Natural H'stony. 



Nesting of Hie Sora Rail. 



" Written for the Collectors' Monthly." 



When the Sora first arrives in the 

 spring, it may be seen quite frequently 

 running about on the old rushes, and 

 other vegetations of the previous year. 

 He does not seem to greatly fear the 

 approach of a person, but will ski]) about 

 from reed to rush picking up the early 

 bug, quite unmindful of the observer. 



Itisnotlong however, that they are 

 so bold. As soon as they begin to think 

 about the spring duties their appeareuce 

 is less frequent and as the new growth 

 of the marsh starts up, affording them 

 shelter they are seldom seen. That they 

 feel a greater responsibility resting upon 

 themselves, after taking up the duties of 

 the season, and thus seclude themselves 

 the more is the only reason that can be 

 offered for this. 



They begin to build their nests about 

 the 15th of May with us. It iscomposed 

 of coarse grass and the dried material 

 common to the marsh, forming a shallow 

 platform . 



In this locality it seems to prefer places 

 where the marsh Imrse-tail grows ( Eqnise 

 turn limosum). These stalks grow up 

 perfectly straight, and being round and 

 hollow, afford a, strong scaffolding, upon 

 which to build. The nest is attached to 

 the stalks, just above the water, which 

 holds it firm, and as the the stalks gets 

 up higher they are sometimes bent over 

 the nest, forming a cover, thus making 

 the nest more difficult to mid. It also 

 builds among other growths, usually 



prefering the Lightest, leaving theco 



material to be utilized by larger birds. 



The horse-tail above Darned may be 

 known by the fifteen to twenty acnte 

 dark colored teeth at each joint. Later 

 in the season,, it sends, out a Few a plight 

 branches. The plant is common in 

 muddy streams. 



The usual compliment of eggs is from 

 ten to fourteen. The ground color is a 

 very dark cream, and the spots are red- 

 dish brown, intermixed with purple shell 

 marks. Their average size is 1 : 25 x .90, 

 but it varies greatly. 



By the 20th or 22nd one may be able 

 to find uearely a full compliment, and 

 from this time to the 5th of June their 

 eggs may be found nearly fresh. 



1 remember the first nest of this species. 

 I was in the mar eh very early one 

 morning, and had just crossed a strip of 

 floating bog, and was trying the opposite 

 bog with my foot, to see if it would bear 

 my weight, 1 happened to see something 

 run behind a clump of rushes, and I 

 began to look around for a nest. At 

 last I looked down directly in front of 

 me and there, not twelve inches from my 

 foot on the opposite bog, was a setofinine 

 eggs of the Sora. 



On several occasions T have heard a 

 slight noise, while examining tin- con- 

 tents of a nest - , anil upon looking closely 

 would see the head of Mrs. Sora just 

 above the water, a Rltpri distance away, 

 peeking at what was going on. but down 

 it would go when 1 made the first move 

 towards it. 



They are very regular in their nesting 

 habits, and do not often surprise us by 

 anything v^vy unusual, as do other 

 species. 



Geo. A. Morrison. 



Fox Lake, Wis. 



