Rail-shooting 273 



eral species of this family have been discovered 

 that have lost the power of flight. These birds 

 inhabited, as a rule, small and isolated islands, on 

 which they had few natural enemies and therefore 

 little need for wings ; but civilized man interfered 

 with the prevailing order when he intruded on 

 their domains, and now some of these birds have 

 been entirely exterminated and others are on the 

 verge. They were seldom shy or wary birds and 

 sometimes possessed an inordinate curiosity. A 

 description of the manner in which a species that 

 lived in Mauritius in 1675 was caught, is quoted 

 by Dr. Stejneger in the "Standard Natural His- 

 tory ": "A rod is taken in the right hand and the 

 left is wrapped in a piece of red stuff, which is 

 then shown to the birds, commonly assembled in 

 numerous flocks. Whether the red color terrifies 

 these stupid birds, or whether it attracts them, 

 they approach the fowler almost without fear ; and 

 he, when they are at a convenient distance, strikes 

 and seizes one. The cries which the captive ut- 

 ters attract its companions, who seek to deliver it, 

 and thus all become the prey of the fowler." Let 

 us be thankful that the presence of enemies has 

 kept our rails from a similar mental and physical 

 condition. 



