Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-09-21
About Rails and Reed Birds.
BY ROBERT RIDGWAY,

/
psychologists have generally called the caro-
lima rail- or common rail- (Porzaua Caro-.
l'na); ADD We consider it preferable to the lat
ter names 90 account Of its more general use,
while at the same time it is more distinctive
appeauon. Some sportsmen also designate it
as the "ortolan, a name mauifesty inapplica-
bic, for the true ortolan is European bird of
the sparrow or bunting tribe (emberiza hortu-
| lanai, which there takes the place of our reed
bird, being 10 the autumn extremely fat and
much sought after for food. We have also
heard our reed bird (dochonyx, orizivorus)
caiieo oy the same name; but We must enter
our protest against the using Of the term "or-
| toian lor the designation Of any American
oird. There are several other species of rails
more or less kno"n to our sportsmeu, the long
eat being the red-breasted and capper rails
lrallus eegaus aud r. orepitans) the former
found in fresh water marshes aud. the latter
oonhned to the salt marshes Both these birds
are, OF large size, neing nearly as large as
puilet, aud dlttor greatly in the shape Of the
bill from the sors rail, it being in the latter
snort aud nearly conlcal, whereas 10 the larger
species 1t Is very long aud slightly curved
his difference, With several minor ones, con-
stltutes these birds different genus (railus-
true ralls) from the sora (porzaDa -crake raiIs).
The red breasted rail is also called marsh hen.
mud hen, ETC., by different persons, but these
names being applied to several different birds
10 different sections of the country, or even BY
diferent gunners in the same locality, they
should De cast aside aud the long recognized
and distinctive name, red breasted rail- be
used instead. Another species Of. the genus
rallus is the Virginia rail (r. virguanus),
which has exactly the colors of the great red
breasted rail, but is Of the size of the sora.
There are also two other species belonging 70
known, on account of their great scarcity.
They are the little yellow rail 10. noveboraceu-
sls) and little black rail Up. jamaceusis). The
latter Is hardly as big as snow bird, and the
former is considerably smaller than the sora.
and very handsomely colored bird.
There is another bird we'll known to sports
men under the various titles of "crow. bill
duck, y white bill mud heu," and coot. The
latter is the proper title, the scientific name
being fulica americana The coot is as large
as small duck, is slate-coIored all over, has a
white bill with dark browuish red knob on
the forehead, and has very large, greeuish
feet, the toes OF which are ''scolloped" with
halt webs. Another, but rarer bird, is the
Florida gallimee, or Americau water-hen,
sometimes called "red-bi coot.' Il much re-
semoes the common coot in appearance, being
OF nearly the same size, shape and color, but
the bill and knob on the forehead are brigbt
scarlet, the former tipped with light green,
while the toes are without the Hans along
the Sides being in this respect like those of the
rails. Its scientific name is gallinuIa galeata
The reed bird next claims our attention. and
IL the bird we'll known to many but not all)
sportsmen as the "ortolau" 10 South Caro-
iua 1t Is called the rice bird" for after leav-
log the reeds OF our coast, it arrives there at
the rlpenlng OF that grain; aud 10 Jamaica
which 1t reaches still later 10 the course of its
southwark migration, il is known as the but
ter bird, on account of its extremely fat con-
dtlon. 1t is fact unknown to many sports
men, aud We may almost say even suspected
by few, that the reed bird is the same as the
bob-oluk or "skuok backbird" which passes
through here In the spriug. Such, however,
IS nevertheless the case. In the spring time
the males and females Of the boboluks mi
CRATE Oortbward 10 separate Aocks, aod ouly
the males have the striking pied black and
white plumage which earus for them the name
Of skunk blackbird" and the merry juggling
song whereby they have secured the title Of
'bob-o"llDk. The females consequently pass
by unobserved. Few. if any, of these birds
breed south Of New York State at this eleva
tion above the sea, and Immediately after the
young are Matched and cared for the males
mout and lose Their black and white plumage,
assuming streaked, dingy, yellowish dress
like that of the females and young birds, and
consequently, when they return southwark. at
the approach of fall. all are 10 one pumape.
and the bob o-ink is therefore uurecoguizsd
To those specially interested 10 The subject
We may say that mounted specimens of all
these species may be seen 10 the cases of the
museum of the Smithsonian Institute, 10
Washington.
The following notice of some of the same
BIRDS alluded to above is from the pen of Mai.
George Dufsy, Commissioner of Revenue for
: this city, crack shot and an enthusiastic
| amateur sportsman:
The north winds will soon carry all the
reed birds away, to the particular regret Of the
| Washington pot hupters who come down here
| to spend their Sundays 10 the marshes; the
sora will follow after the first FROST A great
deal OF useless mystery exists regarding the
origin and habits of the sora, as to whether
they are raised here or somewhere else, &c.
The sora, the reed bird and the woodcock all
have the same habits. They leave in the fall,
ADD re" return 10 the spring and raise their
young here. The reed bird and sora returo in
large numbers during the month of August.
usually 10 the night, which accounts for their
sudden appearance. There is nothing more
strange 10 there being 20 sora one day and
large numbers the next than there is 10 the
sudden Increase or decrease of other game,
Some years since several sportsmeo went tc
| the dixie to fish aud hunt; they got there be-
fore daybreak. While waiting for daylight
| they suddenly heard noise as if who'd storm
was commencing, followed by sound as if
thousands Of birds were settliog around them,
and they atterWard found the birds to be sors,
but in too bad condition to shoot. would in
| fer from this that the sora leave our marshes
10 the fall, taking advantage OF strong north
! wind to carry them away. few return in the
spring and breed here, which accounts tor their
young being found iD our marshes; and they
take ad vantage ofsoutherly winds to return IN
the night which accounts tor their sudden re-
appearance. There is nothing more remarka-
Bile 10 the habits of the sora than in those of