of Gallinules, and if they apprehend danger in consequence of any suspicious
sight or sound, they run off with great speed. Their notes are
shrill and short, but reiterated, like those of Rallus crepitans, although
by no means so loud and disagreeable. When wounded they dive well
at the approach of the sportsman, and sometimes cling to the roots of the
grasses for a few moments, but more usually rise under the cover of the
floating leaves. Some persons still believe that these birds cannot be
drowned; and this notion tempted my friend JOHN BACHMAN to make
the experiment. In a note of his now before me, he says :—" I once, in
company with some naturalists of Philadelphia, tried two experiments
upon two Soras that had been slightly wounded in the wing, to ascertain
how long they could live under the water. They were placed in a covered
basket, which was sunk in the river. One remained fifteen, the other
eight minutes, under water; and on being taken out, they were both
found dead. We placed them in the sun for several days, but, I need
hardly say, they did not revive.1*
The most curious habit or instinct of this species is the nicety of sense
by which they can ascertain the last moment they can remain at any of
the feeding grounds at which they tarry in autumn. One day, you may
see or hear the Soras in their favourite marshes, you may be aware of
their presence in the dusk of evening; but when you return to the place
early next morning, they are all gone. Yesterday the weather was mild,
to-day it is cold and raw; and no doubt the Soras were aware that a
change was at hand, and secured themselves from its influence by a prompt
movement under night. It is probable that these sudden removals gave
rise to the idea of their diving into the mud.
•
RALLUS CAROLINUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 263.—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of
Birds of the United States, p. 334.
GALLÍNULA CAROLINA, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 771-
RAIL, RALLUS CAROLINUS, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. vi. p. 24. pi 48. fig. 2. Male.
CAROLINA RAIL, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 208.
Adult Male. Plate CCXXXIII. Fig. 1.
Bill shorter than the head, rather stout, deep, compressed, tapering.
Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, being slightly convex
towards the end, the ridge flattish for a very short space at the base,
very slightly extended on the forehead, narrow in the rest of its extent;
the sides convex towards the end, the edges sharp, inflected, with a slight
sinus close to the tip. Nasal groove broad and extending to two-thirds
of the length of the bill; nostrils linear, lateral, submedial, pervious.
Lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the sides erect, the dorsal
line sloping upwards, the edges inflected, the tip narrowed, the gapeline
straight.
Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck of moderate length.
Body rather slender, much compressed. Feet of moderate length, rather
stout; tibia bare a short way above the joint; tarsus of ordinary
length, compressed, anteriorly covered with broad scutella, posteriorly
with smaller, and on the sides reticulated. Hind toe very short and
slender, middle toe longest and longer than the tarsus, fourth considerably
shorter than third, and a little longer than second ; toes free, scutellate
above, much compressed, with an inferior sharp margin. Claws rather
long, exceedingly compressed, slightly arched, tapering to a fine point,
flat and margínate beneath.
Plumage rather stiff, but blended, slightly glossed above. Feathers
of the forehead with the shaft enlarged and slightly extended beyond the
tip. Wings short and broad ; alula large ; primaries curved, broad tapering,
but rounded, second longest, third scarcely shorter, first equal to
sixth; secondaries broad and rounded. Tail extremely short, much
rounded, of twelve feeble rounded feathers; the upper and lower tailcoverts
nearly as long as the tail-feathers.
Bill yellow at the base, dusky towards the end. Iris bright chestnut.
Feet yellowish-green ; claws light brown. A broad band surrounding the
base of the bill, the central part of the crown, the chin, and the fore, neck
in its whole length, brownish-black. Ear-coverts olive-brown; a band
over the eye, the cheeks, and the sides of the neck, ash-grey. Sides of
the crown, the hind neck, and the rest of the upper parts, olive-brown,
the feathers brownish-black in the centre, those on the back with two marginal
lines of white. Smaller wing-coverts of a lighter brown ; secondary
coverts margined with black and white markings; quills dusky olivebrown,
as is the tail. Middle of breast and abdomen greyish-white ;
sides barred with brownish-black and greyish-white, as are the lateral
feathers of the rump, those of the abdomen reddish-yellow.
Length to end of tail 9 T
3
5 inches; to end of wings 8 | , to end of claws 12;
extent of wings 14; wing from flexure 4 T \ ; tail 2 ; bill along the ridge
VOL. III. it