Plate LXIV. 
Fig. 3. PORZANA CAROLINA— Sora Rail. 
The Sora Rail, or Carolina Rail as it is more commonly called, begins to arrive from the south the 
last of March or first of April, and by the latter part of the last named month every piece of wet 
grass-land and reedy pond contains many representatives of this species. Suddenly late in May, about the 
time to expect them to begin building, they nearly all disappear from the southern and central portions 
of the State, but in the northern marshes they still remain in large numbers and are soon busily engaged 
with the cares of nidification. They raise but a single brood during the season, and as soon as the young- 
are well able to fly, they begin their journey southward, arriving about Circleville in September and 
October, where, at this time, they again fairly swarm about all suitable swamps. As cold approaches 
they become less plentiful, but a few individuals often remain far into the winter months. 
LOCALITY : 
As stated, the northern marshes are the great breeding grounds, but in other sections of the State a 
nest is sometimes built in a small pond, or even in an open field where a spring and some slight 
depression in the ground have combined to form a permanently moist spot. Such places the birds seem 
to like, although they may be of very small extent, probably they enjoy the open meadow around 
them. 
POSITION : 
The nest is either placed upon the ground, or upon some rubbish, the top of which is slightly above 
the water level, with but little effort at concealment. 
MATERIALS : 
At best the nest is a poor affair, loosely and poorly constructed, but considering the fact that the 
young run about as soon as hatched, it is sufficient. It is composed of grasses, weeds, strips of flags, 
rushes, and such other bits of vegetable material as come handy. It bears a close resemblance to the 
other aquatic nests. 
EGGS: 
The number of eggs in a set varies from six to ten. They measure in long-diameter from 1.20 to 
1.30 and in short-diameter from .80 to .90. A common size is .85 x 1.25. The ground-color of the shell 
is brown shading toward olive, or brownish-buff, and the markings consist of dark blotches, spots, and 
speckles of the same color. The markings are not very numerous and are well distributed over the 
shell. Deep shell-marks are often wanting, but when they occur, are of good size and bluish-gray in 
appearance. 
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