THE ALDABRAN RAIL 263 



each other. Another note is a sort of squeak, and 

 appears to be a sign of anger. They also make a 

 series of short grunts, which seem to be a love-note, 

 and is also used in calling up their young. These 

 birds fight among themselves quite fiercely, flying 

 at each other like gamecocks. One frequently gets 

 the other on his back, pinning him down and peck- 

 ing at him. The battle is quickly decided, and the 

 vanquished gets up and runs away, pursued by the 

 conqueror, who, however, soon halts, and, drawing 

 himself up to his full height, whistles a psean of 

 victory. They do not seem to inflict much injury 

 upon each other in these combats. Their food is 

 anything organic that they can pick up; they 

 never scratch like fowls, but poke around among 

 the dry leaves with their bills. The few people who 

 lived upon Aldabra told me that the Rails were very 

 destructive in the gardens, and also ate the fowls' 

 eggs ; but so far as I myself observed, they do no 

 damage whatever. They are extremely quick in 

 their movements, darting and dodging about the 

 jungle with great activity. They are not absolutely 

 flightless, but use their wings to assist them in 

 leaping, being able to jump and flutter from two to 

 five feet off" the ground. In the open they can 

 easily bo caught by a man, but once in the jungle 



