362 ALECTORIDES. 



taken. Its food consists of small crabs and other minute crustaceans. In the 

 latter part of the season it becomes very fat, acquires a fine flavor, and is highly 

 esteemed by many as food. Mr. Lewis, on the other hand (" American Sportsman," 

 p. 222), maintains that the flesh of this bird is universally insipid, dry, and sedgy. He 

 also speaks of it as being very shy and secret in its habits, and states that he has not 

 met with it except along the salt-marshes of the sea-shore and the mouths of large 

 rivers. He occasionally found it numerous in the brackish fens of Long Island, but 

 has noticed it as being especially abundant along the shores of New Jersey and Dela- 

 ware. It arrives from the south about the middle of April, and its presence is soon 

 made known by its very peculiar cry or cackle, similar to the well-know^n notes of the 

 Common Ouinea-fowl. Even when these birds are most abundant in the marshes few 

 of them are to be seen. 



This bird begins to lay about the close of May ; the nest being simple, but artfully 

 contrived for concealment, and having the long grass twisted and plaited over it in 

 the form of an arch, so that when the observer is inexperienced the eggs are effect- 

 ually concealed. The usual number of these is eight or ten, bu.t there are sometimes 

 as many as fifteen. The egg of this bird is regarded as a great delicacy, and is 

 eagerly sought for. Sometimes the marshes on which this bird breeds are overflowed, 

 in consequence of the long prevalence of easterly gales, and the eggs destroyed in 

 immense numbers. To flu.sh it being almost impossible, the only way to obtain it 

 is to hunt it on the marshes in a light boat during the prevalence of a high tide. The 

 flight of this bird is very similar to that of the Sora Rail, although even more slow and 

 labored, and it is easily brought down when on the wing. 



On the coast of the Carolinas this species breeds in great numbers, some remaining 

 nearly all the year ; but in winter it occurs in smaller numbers, and occasionally, dur- 

 ing the coldest weather, disappears altogether. The number of its eggs is rarely more 

 than seven, and in South Carolina they are laid as early as the 25th of April ; but, 

 OAving, perhaps, to the nests being so often robbed, fresh eggs are found through 

 June. Two broods are usually raised in one season. 



In Jamaica this bird is known as the " Mangrove-hen," it being so named with 

 reference to its appearance, habits, and haunts. It is said by Mr. Hill to ramble 

 about with its callow ])rood, like a hen and chickens. At low water it visits the un- 

 covered flats, and searches for small crabs. \Yorms, shell-fish, insects, and Crustacea 

 are its animal food, and the seeds and shoots of aquatic plants form the vegetable 

 portion of its nourishment. As this bird has much of the character of the GalUnacece, 

 and as the young are able to run and feed themselves as soon as they are hatched, 

 these are, when half grown, as helpless on the wing as half-fledged poultry. At this 

 age, when feeding on the shoals, they can Ije run down with great facility, and are 

 said to be delicious eating. 



Wilson states that the eggs of this bird are a great delicacy, far surpassing in his 

 opinion those of the domestic hen. So abundant were the nests of this Eail, accord- 

 ing to his observations, that he has known tw^elve hundred of their eggs to be collected 

 by one man in a single day. Wilson also mentions that on several occasions, when 

 an unusually high tide had flooded the marshes on which these birds were breeding, 

 he has found the dead bodies of the females, who had perished on their nests, 

 strewed along the shore — proving how strong are the ties of maternal affection in 

 this species. He also states that it has a covered pathway through the marshes, 

 under the matted grasses, through which this bird runs in the manner of rats, and 

 by which it escapes observation. 



Its cries are said by Audubon to resemble the syllables cuc-cac-cac-cdc-cd-cdhd-caha. 



