WADING BIRDS 
212. Virginia Rail. Rallus virginianus. 
Range. — Temperate North America, breeding 
from the Middle States and California, northward 
to British Columbia and Labrador, and wintering 
along the Gulf coast; most abundant in the east. 
A small Rail, 9 inches 
long, very similar in 
markings and colora- 
tion to the King Rail. 
It is found chiefly in 
fresh water swamps, 
where it builds its nests 
in tufts of rushes. The 
eggs number from six 
to fourteen, and are 
creamy white, or white, Creamy white, 
speckled with reddish brown. Size 1.25 x .90 Data. 
— Fighting Island, Detroit River, Michigan, May 
30, 1904. Nest made of marsh grass, in rushes, 6 
inches above the water. Collector, E. Leroy King. 
[213.] Spotted Crake. Porzana porzana. 
This common European species is casually 
found in Greenland. It breeds in large numbers 
throughout temperate Europe, nesting as do the 
American Rails. 
214. Sora. Porzana Carolina. 
Sora 
Virginia Rail. 
Range. — Temperate North America, breeding 
from the southern parts of the British posses- 
sions, south to the Gulf coast. 
This abundant species of Rail may be readily 
known by its small size, about eight inches long, 
and the black face and throat of the adult. These 
are the “Rail-birds” or “Ortolans” which are an- 
nually slaughtered by thousands, for sport and marketing, during their fall mi- 
gration. It is only because of the large families 
that they rear, that they are able to withstand this 
yearly decimanation of their ranks. They nest 
either in salt of fresh water marshes, making a 
rude structure of grass, weeds and strips of rushes, 
on the ground, generally concealed in a tuft of ghass 
in a tangled swamp or marsh. During May, they 
lay from six to sixteen eggs of a bright, huffy gray 
color, spotted with reddish brown and lavender. 
Size 1.25 x .90. Bright buff. 
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