THE "QUEEN" RAIL 



trusting to escape pursuit by flattening the feathers against the 

 slender bodies and darting between the reeds and rushes, where 

 dogs can not penetrate or hunters get a shot ; hence the expression, 

 "slim as a rail." 



Possibly I have many rarer studies of rarer birds, but into 

 many of them there enters an element of pure luck, over which 

 no control can be exercised, and they were only obtained because I 

 happened to be on the spot at the right moment, and so acquainted 

 with the birds that I was able to snap, not for what they were do- 

 ing, but for what experience had taught me they would do next. 

 This picture was deliberate. I worked and planned for it. The 

 bird was superb and I did not spare myself in my efforts to gain 

 her confidence. I drove those ninety-eight miles, and dragged my 

 muck-laden feet by the hour through the chilly swamp-water, in 

 the hope that I should get something nearly as good. I confess I 

 never expected to do quite so well. This study of the "Queen" 

 Rail to me represents the high-water mark of what I have done 

 with birds, in the way of winning their confidence. 



EGGS OF KING RAIL 



39 



