IDYLLS OF BIRD LIFE 
things they might eat. While I was watching their performance 
and without any sign of danger near, as far as I could see, the 
mother bird suddenly darted into the dark recesses among the 
reeds followed by her young. In a few seconds the entire brood 
had disappeared. 
I waited around that place for the best part of two hours, 
carefully concealed, but I saw no more of the sora and her 
young and to this day I do not know what caused her to give 
me the slip. \ 
\ . 
About a month later I passed by the locality where I saw 
mx 
my first sora rail nest, but the place sefemedv deserted. I imi- 
tated the call of the birds and in a few minutes the whole marsh 
was alive with the “kek, kek, ker-wee-peep” peep call of the 
sora rails. 
Thousands of these birds are slaughtered annually for 
their flesh, which at best is rather flavorless and really unfit for 
food. The game laws of Ohio, however, preclude spring shoot- 
>* . * J 
ing, which protects the bird during nesting season. 
X A ">? X i 
“In swamps impervious build their nest 
(So northern fishermen declare), 
Where none may reach them to molest. ” „ / 
■ - 
2S 
McLellan. 
