AMERICAN ORNJTHOLOGy. 



215 



its natural haunts. It resorted to one however, that I had never noticed 

 before in the wild bird in nature, that is where it was performed half so 

 well. When somewhat cornered in the open air and 'looking about for the 

 means of escape, this bird struted along like a little turkey cock, dragging 

 its wings along the ground as it stretched them downward at its sides. 

 At the same time the head was drawn well back and depressed between 

 the shoulders, while the beautiful subcircular tail was spread out to its 

 full extent, bent far forward, so as almost to conceal the major part of 

 the back. It was a pretty sight to see it thus walk off, and the instant it 

 came near any suitable cover to reverse the position of the tail, putting it 

 almost completely out of view as it was directed backward, and with 

 head and neck extended forward, it, with marked cunning, ran into the 

 place of concealment, either to squat down or to stand perfectly motion- 

 less when it thought it was no longer observed. (Fig. 2). Of course, it 

 is a well known fact that when on the ground, in situations favorable to 

 it, its color markings assist to protect and conceal it admirably. Among 

 other things this applies especially to the three transverse dark brown 

 bands on the top of the head, which for all the world resemble the 

 shadows of the reeds or blades of grass in the vicinity of the place of the 

 bird's concealment (Fig. 2). 



In obtaining the life-size photograph of the head of this bird shown in 

 Figure i, of the present article, it was taken instantaneously as the bird 

 stopped for a instant in a walk down a short stretch of turf I had pre- 

 pared for it, in front of a white back ground, in order to cut off all sur- 

 rounding objects. It is an excellent portrait of Philohela as it momen- 

 tarily stands in such an attitude, and doubtless as fully awake to every- 

 thing going on about it as though it were enjoying the solitude of some 

 favorite retreat in a shady creek-bottom, a branch of the upper Potomac. 



Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, N. Y. City. 



