NORTH AMERICAN MARSH BIRDS 295 



Verdi Burtch's (1917) observations of the young and their parents 

 are of much interest. He says: 



On May 11, 1908, the eggs were just beginning to hatch in a nest that I had 

 found some few days before, and, as I approached, the female sUpped from the 

 nest and away through the cat-tails. She was quickly followed by the two little 

 ones, although they were but a few hours old. The nest was surrounded by 

 water so that the birds had to swim, but even then they managed to elude me. 

 Hoping to get a picture of the nest and eggs I set up my camera, and, while focusing, 

 the mother appeared, carrying one of the little ones in her bill, dropped it into 

 the nest, went on, and settled down to brood. 



In another nest on — 



June 17 the eggs were beginning to hatch, and there were six silky little ones in 

 the nest. Three of them followed the mother when she left the nest and hid in the 

 flags around its base. The three others were not yet dry and with their bright eyes 

 shining lay kicking and struggling to get out of the nest. Soon the mother 

 came back calling softly " ka-ka-ka-ka-ka," and the young ones left their 

 hiding place and ran to her. One of them fell into one of my foot tracks, 

 and the mother came quickly and taking it up, ran off into the flags, carrying it 

 dangling from her bill as a cat carries her kittens. The male now showed himself 

 for the first time. 



On the next day all but one were hatched and that one appeared 

 a few minutes later. Whereupon all left the nest and hid. When 

 the mother appeared and called softly ''Mu-kiu-Mu-kiu," ending 

 with a grunting noise, they all ran to her. 



Late in July both parents and young will be found on the muddy shore where 

 they feed and dodge back into the flags at the least sign of danger. At this 

 time the young are about half grown and still keep their downy appearance. 

 When feeding, the mother comes out on the mud, a young one following, and 

 when she finds a choice morsel it is there to receive it. Back in the flags the 

 other young are following, uttering plaintive peeps. As soon as one is fed it 

 returns to the flags and another one comes out to take its place. 



While the parent birds usually slip unseen from the nest before 

 the young are hatched, they are much bolder when the chicks are 

 about. J. A. Weber (1909) relates a case where the female, flushed 

 from her nest, remained in the immediate vicinity — 



strutting about with her feathers puffed up and wings spread like a turkey cock, 

 giving her a rather formidable appearance; at the same time she uttered a low 

 grunting sound which I had never heard from a rail before and quite unlike 

 their characteristic notes. The male showed his interest by his sharp " keck-keck- 

 keck-keck " calls, evidently trying to lead me away from the nest. 



Verdi Burtch (1917) was almost attacked by a female bird with 

 wings drooping and feathers ruffled, and when he attempted to photo- 

 graph her, she actually struck the lens of his camera with her bill. 



J. 11. Bowles (1893) relates a curious and unusual case where after 

 the discovery of a Virginia rail's nest with nine eggs, the bird was 

 seen three minutes later to return to the nest and, standing among 

 the eggs, to deUberately spear them with her long bill. The question 



