RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS 
235 
the dull-colored, motionless for.ms in places where one would not sup- 
pose there was sufficient growth to conceal them. 
Floating silently near the shore on my back in a canoe, I have seen 
them venture out to feed. With tails erect they step gingerly along, 
evidently aware of their exposed position, for on the least alarm they 
dart back to cover. Sometimes they cross small streams by swim- 
ming, and they are expert divers. 
In the fall they gather in the wild-rice or wild-oat {Zizania aquat - 
ica ) marshes, and a well-directed stone or unusual noise may bring a 
series of protesting interrogative kicks or peeps from the apparently 
deserted reeds. At this season “gunners” in small flat-bottomed boats 
are poled through the flooded meadows, and the Soras, waiting until 
the last moment, rise on feeble wing — a mark which few can miss. 
Numerous puffs of smoke float over the tall grasses, and the dull reports 
come booming across the marsh with fateful frequency. 
The Spotted Crake {213. Porzana porzana ) — an Old World representa- 
tive of our Sora — is recorded as “occasional in Greenland.” 
215. Coturnicops noveboracensis (Gmel.). Yellow Rail. (Fig. 
39, b.) Ads. — Upperparts black, the feathers bordered with ochraceous-buff 
and with from one to three narrow white bars; breast ochraceous-buff; mid- 
dle of the belly white; sides and lower belly black or brownish, barred with 
white. L., 7*00; W., 3*40; Tar., *95; B., '52. 
Range. — Chiefly e. N. A. Breeds from s. Mackenzie, cen. Keewatin, 
and s. Ungava s. to Minn, and Maine; winters in the Gulf States, rarely 
in Calif., Ills., and N. C.; casual in Nev., Utah, and Bermuda. 
Washington, rare T. V., Mch.-Apl. 14; Oct. 4-Nov. 12. Long Island, rare, 
probably S. R. Cambridge, rare T. V., in fall. N. Ohio, rare S. R. SE. Minn., 
rare, May 14-Sept. 24. 
.Nest, on the ground in grassy marshes. Eggs, 6-10, creamy buff, densely 
sprinkled and speckled on larger end with rusty brown, 1*12 x ‘83 (Ridgw.). 
Date, Winnebago, Ills., May 17. 
This little Rail inhabits marshes with others of its family. It seems 
to know that it can escape its enemies much more easily by hiding in 
the tangled grasses of its home than by taking wing, and it flies only 
to avoid actual capture. It can be hunted successfully, therefore, only 
with dogs. 
Nuttall describes its notes as “an abrupt and cackling cry, ’ krek , 
9 krek , ’krek, ’krek, ’kuk, ’k’kh,” and compares them to the croaking of 
the tree frog, while a captive bird in the possession of J. H. Ames uttered 
a scolding kik-kik-kik-kik-queah. {Auk, XIX, p. 94.) 
216. Creciseus jamaicensis {Gmel.). Little Black Rail. (Fig. 14.) 
Ads. — Tlead, breast and upper belly slate-color; lower belly and wings 
brownish black, barred or spotted with white; nape dark reddish brown. 
L., 5‘00; W., 2‘80; Tar., *80; B., *60. 
Range. — E. N. Am. Breeds from s. Ont. and Mass. s. to Kans., Ills., 
and S. C.; winters from Tex. e. through the Gulf States and s. to Jamaica 
and Guatemala; casual in Bermuda. 
Washington, rare, May, June, Sept. Long Island, rare, probably S. R. 
N. Ohio, rare S. R. 
Nest , of grasses, on the ground in marshes. Eggs, 8-10, white, thinly 
