38 
THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
reported as nesting on the immense marsh near Palmyra, in 
1898, and a few certainly bred near Mauston in 1896. The last 
authentic record for nesting" in southeastern Wisconsin was of 
two pair which bred near Jefferson in 1900. There are also 
nesting records for Marquette and Plover during the past ten 
years, and unquestionably in many other places unknown to 
us. We have seen numbers of nests, but never noted one built 
up like a flamingo's nest as described by Dr. Hoy in 1852, 
although this might have been necessary in a very wet 
locality. So wary are these birds that of all that occur on the 
Delavan Marsh yearly we have known of but two being killed 
at this place in many years. 
FA/iILY RALLID/E: RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS. 
Rallns elegans And. KI\G RAIL. 
Summer resident, much commoner than twenty-five years 
ago. A regular breeder in suitable localities throughout the 
state, but far less plenty west of the Rock River Valley than 
east of it. The value of this bird for table purposes has come 
to be recognized in many sections, and it is regularly hunted 
with a dog. Occurs in much higher and drier situations than 
any of the other rails, and often frequents stubble fields when 
not too far away from the marsh. We have found the 
oesophagus literally crammed with oats, and in the latter 
part of the summer and early fall the birds subsist largely on 
grasshoppers. 
Rallns virginianns Linn. VIRGINIA RAIL. 
Rather common summer resident, but in no such numbers 
as the next. To be found almost anywhere in low swampy 
land and, except when it first arrives, in late April, keeps well 
under cover unless flushed. There is no question that this 
species has become more abundant than formerly in southern 
Wisconsin. The Virginia rail possesses the power of ventrilo- 
quism to an extraordinary degree, and its note is also exceed- 
ingly variable. A specimen kept alive in a wire netting 
enclosure in a large spring one summer taught us that there 
was hardly any note or noise commonly heard in the marshes 
that he could not imitate, so wonderful were his powers of 
mimicry. Nests in rather higher situations than the sora. 
Porzana Carolina (Linn.). SORA. 
A very abundant summer resident. Breeds in suitable 
localities over the entire state. Arrives in spring from May 1 
