File:Report on the birds of Pennsylvania - with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations (1890) (20047204883).jpg

Title: Report on the birds of Pennsylvania : with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations
Identifier: commercialpoultr11 (find matches)
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Warren, Benjamin Harry, 1858-
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Harrisburg : E. K. Meyers, State Printer
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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70 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. which aflfection appears the more necessary as the male seems to desert his mate and leave her in the sole charg-e of her little family." The Virg-inia Kail breeds in Chester and Delaware counties. Prof. August Kock writes as follows of the species in Lycoming county: " Breeds sparingly, and I tliink in single pairs, at least I have never found more than one family in a locahty." Li the counties of Clinton, Clearfield and Northumberland, Dr. Van Fleet says this rail breeds quite regularly. In other counties the Little Red Rail is reported to me by the following gentlemen, either as an occasional, or regular, but not common summar visitant: Lancaster, Dr. A. C. Treichler; Philadelphia, Rev. Jos. Johnson; Cumberland, T. L. Neif; Luzerne, Dr. W. L. Hart- man; Lehigh, J. F. Kocher; Berks, D. F. Keller; Susquehanna, Dr. H. A. Tingley. The food materials of eleven birds, of this species, are given in the following table: No. Datk. Locality. Food-Materials. 1 Sent. 3. 1879 Delaware county. Pa Philadelphia .Market. Pa Philadelphia Market. Pa Chester county. Pa Chester county. Pa Chester county. Pa Delaware county. Pa WIlmlnKton, Del Delaware county. Pa Delaware rountv Pa.. . Beetles. 2 H 4 5 « 7 8 9 10 Sept. 15. 1879 Sept. 15. 1879 May 13. 1880 May ;«). 1880 July 20. 1882 Oct. 5. 1882 Auk. 14. 188;S Sept. 2, 1884 Sept. 2. 1884 Sept. 2, 1884 Insects and small seed**. FraKments of beetles. Earth-worras. Beetles and veKetahle matter. Beetles. Insects and small seeds Beetles. Beetles. Small ' worms." n Delaware county, Pa Beetles and seeds. Genus PORZANA Vieillot. Porzana Carolina (Linn.). Sora ; Carolina liail ; Hail-bird; Common liail ; "Ortolan." Description (Plate?). . Length, about 9 inclies ; extent, about 13 ; bill about tliree-fourths of an incli long. This species shows great variations in plumage, in perfect dress the sexes are alike. Young or immature birds lack the black of face, chin and throat; the throat and the breast, often streaked or patched with bluish-ash, is brownish. Adulty in Spring.—Upper parts olive-brown and black, and many feathers spotted or streaked on edges with white, Hanks andaxillars, barred with black and white ; feathers about bill, chin and throat black ; line over eye, sides of head, portion of neck and breast, plain lead color; belly, grayish-white ; under tail coverts, rusty white; bill (dried skin) greenish yellow, dark toward end; legs dark greenish; iris brown. Habitat.—Temperate North America, but most common in the eastern province, breeding chiefly northward. South in winter to the West Indies and northern South America. The Carolina Rail and Virginia Rail rt^semble each other in size and form, but otherwise are greatly different. First, they differ in plumage, secondly, the bill of the Carolina Rail is about three-fourths of an inch long, while in the Virginia Rail this organ is often over one and one- half inches in length; again, the legs of the Carolina Rail are greenish- FMate 16. 4 m.
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ill ill 1. Broad-winged Hawk. 2, 3. Sparrow-Hawk. f.\ COLOR PLATE

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