334 BULLETIN 135, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



concealed nest with one whole and three smashed eggs. An egg-smeared boot 

 explained the unfortunate destruction of what would have proved a valuable 

 addition to any zoological collection. Incubation had commenced in each egg of 

 this small set. This nest as well as an empty one found in a similar location at 

 a distance of a few hundred feet, was placed from 10 to 12 inches above the mud. 

 Having flushed birds directly from two nests, I imagined I should have no diffi- 

 culty in securing a series of specimens if searched for diligently; time has shown 

 the fallacy of that idea. Extensive field experience throughout this and several 

 other States, warrants the writer in claiming that there is no bird whose nest 

 is more difficult to find than an occupied nest of this species under considera- 

 tion. Some of our small feathered denizens of the forest effectually conceal 

 their homes in bewildering foliage of tall trees, but the nesting site can usually 

 be located by a sharp-eyed and patient collector watching the birds during 

 building operations. The California black rails inhabit such dense vegetation, 

 in which an abundance of nesting material is close at hand, that work could be 

 carried on at a distance of feet without one's being aware of the fact. Twenty- 

 five special collecting trips to this colony by the undersigned, has resulted in only 

 one bird and three sets of eggs; on each occasion two to six hours was spent in 

 a most painstaking search for specimens. I have seen but 10 birds. Five of 

 them were flushed by a young man and his dog; one was captured by the same 

 party seizing it with his hand as it endeavored to escape from the dog by running, 

 and the others were flushed by myself. The salt weeds of this marsh are of an 

 evergreen character and perennial, varying little from season to season. Old 

 clumps of Salicornia become more or less matted down, forming an ideal retreat for 

 this secretive little bird. A favorite nesting site is one formed bj' an old top-heavy 

 weed falling over a growth of previous years in such a way as to leave a shelf- 

 like space between the layers of stems and foliage. Away from the glaring sun 

 on such a platform, is concealed a flimsy nest of fine dry weed stems. These 

 weeds are too brittle to admit of weaving, and fall apart on being lifted from the 

 sustaining platform. Nests that are built on the ground are sometimes as much 

 as 2 inches thick in the center. Even the best constructed nests partially fall awaj-^ 

 on removal from the supporting weeds and earth. To Mr. Park Harris, a former 

 resident of San Diego, is due the credit of discovering the first eggs of the Cali- 

 fornia black rail. Mr. Frank Stephens killed a California black rail on May 28, 

 1908, and recorded the fact in March-April, 1909, Condor. This is the earliest 

 known summer record. All previous records are of birds taken out of breeding 

 season. Most of these birds have been recorded from points 500 miles north of 

 National City. 



Laurence M. Huey (1916) adds the following information: 



With these birds there is a noticeable lack of uniformity in their nesting dates, 

 as well as a great variation in the nests themselves as constructed by diS'erent 

 pairs of birds. Sometimes the nests are raised well off the ground, but this is 

 unusual. The more typical ground nests are greatly affected by the tides. 

 Some that I have seen were fully 5 inches thick, with as many as three distinct 

 layers, showing how often reconstruction has been necessary. One thing is inter- 

 esting as a side light on this bird's shyness, a habit that is a constant aggrava- 

 tion to the collector. This is the astonishing ease with which the birds bring 

 themselves to abandon incomplete sets when they are discovered. Although I 

 have found several incomplete sets, I have in no instance succeeded in collecting 

 a full set from the nest at a later date. In everv case the bird had deserted when 



