EALLID.E — THE RAILS — PORZAXA. 379 



in the West India Islands than with us. Its secretive habits and its extremely small 

 size favor its concealment, and explain its apparently great rarity, without necessa- 

 rily iKcsuming it to be very uncommon, since it may exist abundantly without its 

 presence being known or suspected. It has been found by Mr. Krider breeding about 

 I'hiladelphia, and its eggs have been obtained. It is given by Dr. Gundlach as a bird 

 of Cuba, but without positive knowledge as to its breeding on that island. Mr. Gosse 

 states that a specimen of this species was brought to him in Jamaica in A] nil alive 

 and unhurt. It lived in a cage two days, but scarcely ate anything. Althou<di once 

 or twice observed to pick in the mud, in general it would not even walk upon it. It 

 was not at all timid ; its motions were very deliberate, it slowly raised its large 

 feet, and then set them down without making even a step. Its neck was usually 

 drawn in short ; and then it presented very little of the appearance of a Eail, but 

 rather that of a Passerine bird. When it walked, its neck was more or less extended 

 horizontally, although it occasionally bridled up. When standing still, the throat was 

 often in slight vibration ; but there was no flirting or erection of the tail. Mr. Gosse 

 met with these birds on three other occasions. In the latter part of August, in the 

 morasses of Sweet River, several of them flew out from the low rushes at his feet, 

 and fluttering along for a few yards with a very labored flight, dropped into the 

 dense rush again. In the manner of its flight, and in its figure, this bird greatly 

 resembled a chicken. It flies, with its legs hanging inertly down, with feeble and 

 laborious motion, from one tuft of herbage to another, whence it will not emerge until 

 almost trodden on. Mr. Gosse heard it utter no sound ; but Robinson, quoted by Mr. 

 Gosse, in describing two of these birds brought to him in October, 1760, says their 

 cry was very low, resembling that of a Coot at a distance. He noticed also their 

 peculiar flight and their mode of squatting. Several, Robinson adds, were killed 

 accidentally by the negroes at work, as the bird is so foolish as to hide its head, cock 

 up its rump, and think itself safe. It is then easily taken alive. The negroes in 

 Clarendon call it the " Cacky-quaw," from its cry. It is also, for the same reason, 

 called the " Kitty-go " and the " Johnny-ho " in Westmoreland. This cry, instead of 

 being limited to three syllables, is said by Mr. March to be like chi-chi-cro-eroo-croo, 

 severa,l times repeated in sharp, high-toned notes, so as to be audible to a considerable 

 distance. 



A single example, agreeing in all respects with others from Jamaica, is stated by 

 Mr. Salvin to have been shot by Mr. Fraser near the Lake of Duenas, in Guatemala. 

 It is also known to occur in South America as far south as Chili. 



Mr. Titian R. Peale informed Audubon that, in July, 1836, he received from Dr. 

 Thomas Rowan an adult and four of its young alive, obtained near Philadelphia. 

 The young died soon after they were received, but the old bird lived four days. They 

 fed sparingly upon Indian meal and Avater, and soon appeared at home. The old 

 bird proved to be a male — rendering it rather remarkable that he should have allowed 

 himself to be taken by hand in trying to defend his young brood. Mr. Peale had in 

 his museum another specimen, taken many years before, caught in the neighborhood 

 of Philadelphia. Mr. Rowan, supposing the old bird Avas a female, wrote to Mr. 

 Peale : " The hen flew a few rods, and then fleAv back to her young in an instant, when 

 they caught her, together with her four young ones." He adds that he has seen the 

 same bird in his meadow every month of the year, and thinks that it is resident, and 

 does not migrate to the south. 



Captain Charles Bendire writes me that he observed this Rail, in April, in the 

 vicinity of Lake Malheur, in Southeastern Oregon ; and he states later that he has 

 again met with it, and that it unquestionably breeds there. 



