172 
Cl R l' I FORMES 
Subfamily Rallinae. True Rails 
General Description. Very flat-bodied birds, compressed laterally, adapted for slipping 
between close-growing reeds and grasses; wings small, rounded, and comparatively weak. 
The whole structure of the bird is loose, giving the flexibility needed by habit and habitat, 
but not adapted for prolonged or strenuous effort. 
Distinctions. Most easily recognized by negative characteristics; rail-like birds as 
described above that are not coots or gallinules (without frontal shield on forehead: com- 
pare with Figures 248 and 249, pages 174, 175). 
Field Marks. Rails rise from the grass at one’s feet with a loose, feeble flight, legs 
dangling and neck outstretched. They rise with evident and hurried difficulty, fly weakly 
a short way over the marsh, and then suddenly collapse into it again. 
The rails are skulkers and expert hiders in the grass. They thread 
the narrow runways between the clumps with mouse-like dexterity and 
speed. They rely on their ability to hide more than on 
flight to escape danger and will often allow themselves 
to be caught in the hand rather than take wing. A 
rail will flush once in a seeming panic, but safely 
down again it can rarely be forced to wing a second 
time and in a small, isolated clump of cover will seldom 
be again detected except by a dog’s keen nose. Rails 
can and do swim, but only occasionally and only for a 
short distance, as when passing from one grass clump 
to another they find the water too deep for wading. 
Rails are very noisy, especially at night. Even 
in the daytime a sudden and unexpected noise will 
bring forth a chorus of their loud, harsh cacklings from 
the marsh, though not a bird may be seen. 
Our western Canadian rails can be included in two divisions, a long- 
billed (Figure 245) and a short-billed (Figure 246) type. The first is repre- 
sented by the King and Virginia Rails; the second by the Sora and Yellow 
Rails. 
Figure 244 
Foot of Rail; 
scale, 
208. King Rail, le rale £l£gant. Rattns elegans. L, 15. A long-lulled rail so 
like the Virginia (which see) except in size as to hardly require further description, the only 
appreciable difference in colour being in having rufous instead of grey cheeks. 
Distinctions. Size, 15 inches instead of 9 *50, is a perfect distinction. 
Field Marks. As given for Virginia Rail but very much larger. Too rare in Canada, 
except in the more southern parts of Ontario, to be recorded on eye-sight alone. 
Nesting. In wet marsh, in nest of grass. 
Distribution. Eastern North America. Only regular in Canada in the most southern 
parts of Ontario. Once reported from Manitoba. 
212. Virginia Rail, le rale de virginte, Rallus limicola. L, 9-50. A long- 
billed rail (Figure 245). Foreneck, breast, and flanks cinnamon-rufous; back brownish 
black, each feather broadly margined with an 
ochraceous shade of breast colour; flanks barred 
black and white. Cheeks slate grey, almost black in 
front of eye, and with partial white superciliary line. 
Bill largely red and legs reddish brown. Juvenile 
similar but colours veiled with black. 
Distinctions. Distinguished from any other rail 
likely to be met with in western Canada by its long, 
decurved bill and general rufous coloration. Young 
birds, much clouded with black, have been taken for 
the Black Rail, but the long bill is distinctive. 
The King Rail is almost exactly similar in colour, 
but so decidedly larger (L, 15) as to cause no con- 
fusion. 
