322 BULLETIN 135, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



dries. But it is seldom seen in flight and most observers agree on 

 its secretive and skulking habits. Audubon (1840) seems to have 

 been more fortunate in seeing it than more recent observers, for he 

 says: 



In the course of my stay at the Silver Springs in East Florida, I observed a 

 good number of these birds along the margins of the lakes and swampy bayous, 

 and had ample opportunities of assuring myself that this species is far from being 

 oocturnal, as authors have alleged, at least when in places where they are under 

 no apprehension of danger. In those sultry solitudes I have at times seen them 

 following the margins of the muddy shores, with delicate and measured steps, until 

 attracted by something worthy of their attention, when they suddenly jerked 

 their tail upwards and for a moment disappeared. Again, they would gracefully 

 leap upon the slender twig of some low shrub or bush, apparently in search of 

 smaU snails or other objects, jerking their tail at every movement. There it was 

 that I again saw the extraordinary power of contraction which their body is able 

 to assume while they are pushing forward between two or more stubborn branches. 

 They were all so gentle that I at times approached within a few yards of them, 

 when they would now and then look cunningly at me, rise more erect for a 

 moment, and then resume their occupations. 



On the other hand, Mr. Peabody, after his many years of experi- 

 ence with it, says in his notes: 



But once in 20 years did I ever flush a yellow rail from her nest. I have 

 several times approached a nest previously discovered, with slow caution, mak- 

 ing then a quick run to the spot. Yet never did I succeed in finding the bird 

 at home. Once, after discovering a nest where surrounding herbage was wholly 

 beaten down by horses, making unnoticed escape by skulking fairly impossible, I 

 left the spot, after examining the eggs, amid pitiless cold rain. Ten minutes 

 later I returned, against the wind, and cautiously; no rail appeared; yet the eggs 

 were warm. Never but once, in the 20 odd years, did I ever actually see a yel- 

 low rail come out into the open. In this case, as I approached a small area of 

 smoothly beaten-down fine grass, a yellow rail ran out, some feet ahead of me; 

 ran swiftly for about fifteen yards; then stood for just an instant in statuesque 

 pose; and then vanished, in an instant. For all the world like a 10-day, brown 

 leghorn chicken did it look. 



The voices of the marsh are often veiled in mystery; the vocalist 

 is seldom seen, almost never by the average observer; and among 

 the many, varied calls that one hears it is often difficult, if not im- 

 possible, to identify positively the author of any one. Fortunately 

 for us, J. H, Ames (1902) has positively identified the notes of the 

 yellow rail from a bird he had in captivity; he records the notes as 

 "Hk-Mlc-Tcilc-MJc-queah" ; sometimes the "kik" note was repeated 

 seven or eight times. His published note on it is entitled "Solution 

 of the 'Ornithological Mystery,' " assuming that the "Hclcer" notes 

 referred to by WilUam Brewster (1901), as probably made by the 

 black rail, were really referable to the yellow rail. I am inclined to 

 agree with Mr. McKechnie (1906) that Mr. Ames has solved the 

 mystery and that the yellow rail may yet be found breeding in 

 Massachusetts. 



