CAROLINA CRAKE. 23 I 



The adult plumage is gained in the first winter, but the grey 

 feathers of the neck still retain brownish margins. 



Characters. — The Carolina Crake differs from our Spotted 

 Crake in having the fore part of the cheeks, lores, and centre 

 of the throat, black ; the inner web of the innermost 

 secondaries is like the rest of the quills, and is merely fringed 

 with white. In P. porzana it is light fulvous brown. 



Range in Great Britain. — A single specimen of this North 

 American species has been shot near Newbury in Berkshire ; 

 it was exhibited by Professor Newton to a meeting of the 

 Zoological Society on the 14th of February, 1865. 



Range outside the British Islands. — The Carolina Crake is 

 found in summer throughout temperate North America, and it 

 winters in Central America, the West Indies^ and the Northern 

 provinces of South America. 



Habits. — Dr. Brewer publishes the following interesting 

 note * on the habits of the present species in the " Water- Birds 

 of North America " : — 



"Early in August, when the reeds have attaii cd their full 

 growth, the *Sora Rail' resorts to them in great numbers to feed 

 on the seeds, of which it is very fond. This reed (the Zizania 

 clavulosa of Michaux) grows up from the soft muddy shores of 

 the tide-water, where the surface is alternately bare and covered 

 with four or five feet of water, and attains a height of ten feet, 

 covering tracts of many acres in extent, the stalks growing so 

 closely together that a boat, excepting at high water, can 

 hardly make its way through them. The seed of this plant is 

 long and slender, white in colour, sweet to the taste and very 

 nutritious. When the reeds are in fruit, the Rails, in great 

 numbers, take possession of them. At this season, a person 

 walking along the banks of the river may hear their cries in 

 every direction. If a stone is thrown among the reeds, there 

 is a general outcry, and a reiterated kuk-kuk-kuk, like the 

 scream of a Guinea Fowl. Any sudden noise produces the 

 same effect. None of the birds, however, can be seen except 

 at high water ; and when the tide is low, they keep secreted, 



* Taken from Doughty's "Cabinet of Natural History." 



