Vol. XXXIIl 



1915 J Cahn, Food Habits of the Virginia Rail. 91 



NOTES ON A CAPTIVE VIRGINIA RAIL. 



BY ALVIN R. CAHN. 1 



On the night of October 21, 1913, Madison, Wisconsin, received 

 its first touch of winter weather in the shape of a premature snow- 

 storm, accompanied by high northwest winds. A university 

 student, walking down State street near the Capitol after dark, 

 picked up on the street an exhausted bird, which he put into his 

 coat pocket. The next morning he brought the bird — still in the 

 coat pocket — to the Zoological Laboratory for identification, and 

 it proved to be a Virginia Rail (Rallus virginianus) . The bird was 

 undoubtedly migrating when overcome by the fury of the storm. 



Examination showed the rail to be in remarkably good condition 

 and it was decided to try various feeding experiments on it. The 

 bird was accordingly placed in a room in the vivarium, where it 

 could hide beneath the ferns and have plenty of exercise, yet find 

 no food except that which was given it. 



On the 22nd and 23rd the bird refused all food, and spent the 

 days asleep amid the ferns, perched on one leg with its head buried 

 under its wing. It showed no signs of fear, and slept undisturbed 

 until actually touched, evidently regaining its lost strength. On 

 the morning of October 24, a shallow dish of water containing ten 

 good sized Amphipods (Dikerogammarusfaciatus) was placed among 

 the plants, and half an hour later the crustaceans had disappeared. 

 From then on there was no question as to whether or not the rail 

 would eat; the difficulty lay in obtaining an adequate supply for 

 its insatiable appetite. From October 24 to November 1, inclusive, 

 the bird was fed entirely on these Amphipods, together with cad- 

 dice-worms (Platyphylax designatus) which had been removed 

 from their cases. Thirty amphipods and fifteen caddice-worms 

 were fed daily, and the rail was apparently in excellent condition, 

 although its appetite was evidently not satisfied. 



On the morning of November 2, the bird was placed in a glass 

 show-case covered with wire, size 24 X 12 X 12 inches, having a 



1 Zoological Laboratory, University of Wisconsin. 



