NORTH AMERICAN MARSH BIRDS 259 



horizontal branch with one leg drawn up and the curved bill resting on his 

 breast. These elevated perches are generally resorted to at daybreak. The 

 people told us that when the country was first settled the "Limpkins," as they 

 are called from their peculiar halting gait, were so tame that they could fre- 

 quently be caught on their nests, but incessant persecution has had the usual 

 result and they are now at all times among the most wary of birds. 



Dr. Bryant (1861) says of its voice: 



The common note of this bird is the most disagreeable of any of our native 

 birds, and resembles more that of the peacock than that of any other bird I am 

 acquainted with; it is if anything more powerful, and equally harsh and dis- 

 agreeable. It is very fond of uttering it. Besides this, which I presume is the 

 call note, it makes a number of other sounds, all of the most inharmonious 

 description, but of which I can convey no correct idea. 



Mr. Pennock says in his notes: 



Our introduction to the bird was a self-announcement of his presence which came 

 in no uncertain notes from afar across the open stretch. If this bird was located 

 where the guide pointed out, he was at least three-quarters of a mile distant and 

 at other times, by the same authority, they were heard at even greater distances. 

 At any rate their notes are far-reaching, are strident, and have great volume — a 

 prolonged wail "curr-r-u-ck" perhaps might give an idea of the call as we heard 

 it most frequently, but the guide insisted I have not heard the "sure enuf" cry, 

 nor did I until some days later; then a wounded bird which fell in the water near the 

 boat sent forth repeated and most terriffic clarionlike screams, more prolonged and 

 earpiercing than we had previously heard and which I was informed were the 

 "sure enuf thing." Several of the birds seen were discovered by their loud calls 

 and were found to be perched aloft in or near the tops of the myrtle clumps, 

 usually so high up as to be seen for a long distance — not infrequently for a half 

 mile — and several times when a bird was alarmed and flew up from the grass 

 pond it made for such a refuge and gave close attention to our approach, as we came 

 across open water in the boat. At times we could pole within 50 yards of one 

 of these perching birds and again they flew while we were yet 150 yards distant. 

 Always such birds sent forth their shrill, rolling calls from on high whether they 

 were approached or not, perhaps an indication of nervous apprehension. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Breeding range. — The interior of the peninsula of Florida and 

 southeastern Georgia (Okefinokee Swamp) . The breeding birds of the 

 West Indies and Central America are now considered subspecifically 

 distinct. 



Winter range. — The same as the breeding range. This is a non- 

 migratory species. 



Casual records. — Has wandered in winter to the Florida Keys 

 and the Dry Tortugas; and to South Carolina (Aiken County, Octo- 

 ber 18, 1890). The record for Brownsville, Texas, May 29, 1889, re- 

 fers to the Central American form. 



Egg dates.— ¥\ov\d&: 80 records, January 3 to August 2; 40 records, 

 March 19 to April 20. 



