THE OOLOGIS'J . 



91 



caught in this manner by dogs that run 

 after and pull them down, 



The specimen before me now was 

 cai:ght in that way and the bird brought 

 to me alive and uninjured. They liter- 

 ally seem to swarm in the rice fields 

 and swamps where they are killed in 

 great numbers by hunters, and in fact 

 are a source of annojance to persons 

 trying to hunt other birds found in the 

 same held. 



After the rice harvest is over many 

 are killed by children who knock them 

 down with sticks as they rise from the 

 short stubble. 



Their flight is so uncertain that one 

 does not know whether they will con- 

 tinue or drop in the grass When 

 started, they make various sharp turns, 

 often running between the dog's legs 

 making him turn a sumasault in his 

 eagerness to catch the game. Some- 

 times to elude their pursuers, they tiy 

 a short distance, light for a second, fly 

 again, and then run as hard as they 

 can. 



As the Sora departs early in the 

 Spring I am ignorant of its nesting hab- 

 its, beyond what I have read on the 

 subject. 



When they arrive, the only difl'erence 

 between the old and young of both 

 sexes, is that the latter have no dark 

 throat line and less black about the 

 base of the bill and face. 



After the Sora, the King Rail, RaUus 

 elegans, is most common. It is a resi- 

 dent but is not seen much during the 

 Spring and early Summer month, as it 

 vzithdraws to nest along the bayous and 

 deep uiarshes. This is the largest Rail 

 we have and ranks high in the list of 

 game birds of this parish (Plagnemine). 



A series of measurements taken by 

 me this Summer were as follows: 14.00 

 X18.00, 14 50x21.00, 17 75x23.50. m. m. 

 The first was killed early in August and 

 was probably young. 



Its nest consists of a platform of leeds 

 and woven grass, placed a few inches 



above high water. The eggs, about a 

 dozen in number, which are creamy 

 splotched with brown, are very much 

 liked by the natives who go out during 

 the nesting season and secure baskets 

 full, for edible purposes. 



They say that the flavor is delicious. 



The young ai"e blackish and brownish, 

 the barred black and white not appear- 

 ing for some time. 



Thej' are very active little fellows, 

 following their mother through the 

 swamp when they are only a day or so 

 old. 



On one occasion my father saw an old 

 Rail followed by her young, attempt to 

 cross a ditch. The old one crossed in 

 safety but the young, after entering the 

 ditch were unable to get out again, ond 

 would have drowned but for bis assis- 

 tance, but on being stretched on the 

 ground they rapidly I'ecovei'ed and 

 scampered off. 



The Purple Galllnule is undoubtedly 

 the most beautiful bird found here — its 

 brilliant plumage displaying every tint 

 of the blue, violet and olive, contrasted 

 with its bright red bill tipped with yel- 

 low and its snow white crissum. How- 

 ever it does not rank very high as a 

 game bird as the flesh is tough and 

 stringy. About a dozen eggs, shaped 

 somewhat like those of a common 

 chicken constitute a clutch. Several 

 sets secured this year averaged 12.00x 

 21.00. The plumage of the young var- 

 ies very much. One killed last Sep- 

 tember was greenish all over, while 

 two, obtained a few days ago, were 

 deep brown above, tinged with blue 

 and olive and almost pure white below, 

 The color of the frontal sheath also var- 

 ies, being either red, green or brown. 



Though its feet are not w^ebbed it is 

 an expert swimmer and a fearless diver, 

 diflering in the latter respect from true 

 rails. When flushed it usually lights 

 in a bush or a pile of weeds, prepara- 

 tory to running off. Its flight is rather 

 slow, their long green and yellow legs . 

 awkwardly dangling behind them. 



