30 G R E A T R E D - B R E A S T E D RAIL.
thing that he was desirous of making his prey. Presently he made a sudden
pounce into a bunch of grass, when I immediately heard the piercingcries
of the Marsh-Hen, and shortly after came passing by me the successful
murderer with the bird in his mouth.'"
" In seasons of great drought, when the marshes which are their favourite
haunts become dry, these birds have been known entirely to disappear
from the neighbourhood, and not to return until after heavy rains,
having in the mean time, no doubt, retired to the shores of the larger and
deeper ponds of the swamps of the interior."'1
The young of this species acquire the redness of their plumage during
the first summer, and increase in size and beauty for several years,
without experiencing any change in their colouring after the spring following
that of their birth. The sexes are scarcely distinguishable otherwise
than by the difference of size, the males being considerably larger
than the females. I am not aware that this species. raises more than one
brood in the season, although, when its eggs have been destroyed, it may
lay a second time.
The flight of this Rail resembles that of the salt-water kind, but
is considerably stronger and more protracted. When, suddenly flushed,
they rise and go off with a chuck, their legs dangling beneath, and generally
proceed in a straight line for some distance, after which they drop
among the thickest grass, and run off with surprising speed. In several
instances they have been known to stand before a careful pointer. They
are less apt to take to the water than the Rally s crepitans; and are by no
means so expert at diving. Their number does not appeal* to be diminished
in winter by any migratory movements. Their cries, which do
not differ much from those of the other species, are less frequently repeated
after the breeding season.
Few birds afford better food than this species: during autumn, when,
feeding chiefly on grass seeds, they are juicy and tender; in spring, however,
they are less delicate. Their superiority in size over all other birds
of the genus that occur in the United States, renders them valuable game
to the knowing sportsman and epicure. Their eggs also are excellent as
food, being much preferable to those of the common fowl.
I regret that I am obliged to conclude this account, without being
able to describe the eggs, which, although well known to my friend JOHN
BACHMAN, have not yet come under my inspection, but which I trust I
shall have an opportunity of figuring in the concluding plates of my work.
G R E A T R E D - B R E A S T E D RAIL. 31
GIIEAT RED-BREASTED RAIL, OR FRESH-WATER MARSH HEX.
RALLUS ELEGANS.
Adult Male. Plate CCIII. Fig. I.
Bill much longer than the head, slender, compressed, very slightly
curved, deep at the base. Upper mandible with the dorsal line almost
straight until towards the end, where it is slightly Curved} the ridge
flattish at the base, and extending a little on the forehead, convex towards
the end; a deep groove runs on either side parallel to the ridge
for two-thirds of the whole length ; the edges inflected, with a very slight
notch close to the tip. Nostrils lateral, linear, direct, open and pervious.
Lower mandible with the angle very long, extremely narrow, the sides
erect, slightly convex, the edges inflected, the tip narrowed.
Plead small, oblong, much compressed. Neck long and slender.
Body slender, much compressed. Feet long; tibia bare a considerable
way above the joint; tarsus rather long, strong, compressed, anteriorly
covered with broad scutella, posteriorly with smaller, and on the sides reticulated
; hind toe very small and slender, middle toe longest, fourth
considerably shorter, and but little longer than the second ; toes free, scutellate
above, compressed, granulate beneath ; claws of moderate length,
arched, slender, much compressed, acute, flat, and marginate beneath.
Plumage rather stiff, compact and glossed on the upper parts. Feathers
of the head and neck short and blended; of the forehead with the shaft
enlarged, and extended beyond the tip. Wings very short and broad ;
alula large ; primaries curved, broad, tapering but obtuse, third longest,
second scarcely shorter, first and seventh about equal; secondaries weak,
broad, rounded. Tail very short, much rounded, of twelve feeble rounded
feathers; the upper and lower coverts nearly as long as the tail-feathers.
Lower mandible and edges of upper brownish-yellow ; ridge of upper,
and tips of both, deep brown. Iris bright red. Feet yellowish-brown,
tinged with olive; claws of the same colour. Upper part of head
and hind neck dull brown, the bristle-like shafts of the frontal feathers
brownish-black; a brownish-orange line from the bill over the eye; a
broader band of the same colour from the lower mandible, the intermediate
space dusky; chin white. The upper parts in general are streaked
with brownish-black and light olive-brown, the two sides of each feather
being of the latter colour. Wing-coverts dull chestnut, most of them irregularly
tipped with brownish-white. Alula and primaries deep olive