336 BULLETIN 135^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



A few days later I hunted a part of the marsh at high tide late in the after— 

 noon. On my way to camp at dusk in a place where the marsh lay at the foot 

 of a bluff one flushed almost under my feet and lit a dozen yards away among 

 the debris lodged at the foot of the hill and stood there in the open, though not 

 to be seen distinctly, because of the gathering darkness. I fired at it without 

 effect. The bird flew out over the water and then turned around the point, 

 where I failed to flush it again. This is the only long flight I have seen and it 

 • reminded me of the flight of a water ouzel. The other two flights I have seen 

 were short and raillike. The birds seem to lie very close and must be nearly 

 stepped on before they will flush. I fancy that the species wUl be found fairly 

 common in many localities when they are looked for carefully in the right places. 



Mr. Ingcrsoll (1909) observed a bird in flight, of which he writes: 



While packing the eggs a tuft of cotton was blown from my fingers; on mak- 

 ing a quick grab, my hand was thrust into a clump of weeds, causing one of 

 the elusive birds to rise and fly feebly 30 to 40 feet, then with a sort of boomer- 

 ang flight, hover and return to within 16 feet (actual measurement) of the 

 starting point. The bird flew so slow it seemed to have difficulty in keeping in 

 the air; this appeared to be a flight of observation. The bird turned its head and 

 scrutinized me with one of its red eyes while flying off. The legs were hanging; 

 down until the turning point was reached. They were then drawn up to the body 

 and dropped as she settled out of sight in a tangled mass of weeds. 



Mr. Huey (1916) refers to the voice of this rail, as follows: 



I have spent hours and even days on the rail marshes at all times of the year,, 

 and find that even as early as February, on clear mornings, the "clee-cle-clee-ee" 

 (accent falling on first syllable of last word) may be heard in many places on the 

 marsh. This is particularly true when one has walked about the marsh enough 

 to disturb the birds. This call is chiefly used during the early mating season, 

 and also as a protest against intruders in their domain. Occasionally, however,. 

 I have heard it even in the late fall. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Pacific coast of the United States. 



Breeding range. — Imperfectly known. Eggs have been collected 

 only from the marshes in the vicinity of San Diego, California, in 

 which area the species is resident. Summer occurrence records tak& 

 the Farallon rail north to central California (Suisun, the Faralloo 

 Islands, and Martinez), with casual records in Oregon (Malheur Lake) 

 and probably Washington (Tacoma). The range extends south- 

 through coastal California (Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Ballona,. 

 Hueneme, Riverside, and Orange) to northwestern Lower California 

 (San Quintin). 



Winter range. — This rail appears to have the curious habit of 

 wintering north of its principal breeding area, a conclusion that seems 

 warranted from the numerous winter records from the vicinity of 

 San Francisco Bay. It probably also winters on the Farallon Island* 

 and southward to San Diego. 



Egg dates. — California: 19 records, March 12 to May 23; 10 rec- 

 ords, March 30 to May 12. 



