Brewster on Florida Birds. 43 



for any sudden noise, like the splash of a paddle in the water or 

 the rapping of its handle against the boat, was sure to be instantly 

 followed by a piercing k/tr-r-ee-o%v\ kurr-r-ee-oiv 1 , kurr-ee-o-w\ 

 kr-oiv, kr-ow, from the nearest thicket ; or perhaps several would 

 cry out at once as Rails will do on similar occasions. For the 

 most part the birds kept closely hidden but at length we discovered 

 one feeding on the shore. His motions were precisely similar to 

 those of a Rail, as he skirted the oozy brink, lifting and putting 

 down his feet with careful deliberation. Occasionally he detected 

 and seized a snail, which was quickly swallowed, the motion 

 being invariably accompanied by a comical side shake of the bill, 

 apparently expressive of satisfaction, though it was perhaps de- 

 signed to remove any particles of mud that may have adhered to 

 his unique food. Finally he spied us and walked up the inclined 

 trunk of a fallen tree to its shattered end where he stood for a 

 moment tilting his body and jerking up his tail. Then he uttered 

 a hoarse rattling cry like the gasp of a person being strangled, at 

 the same time shaking his head so violently that his neck seemed 

 in imminent danger of dislocation. Just as we were nearly within 

 gun-range he took wing, with a shriek that might have been heard 

 for half-a-mile. His flight was nearly like a Heron's, the wings 

 being moved slowly and occasionally held motionless during 

 intervals of sailing. 



Shortly afterwards another, his mate probably, was detected 

 under a palmetto leaf near at hand. In the shadow her form 

 was dimly outlined and she stood perfectly motionless, evidently 

 relying upon concealment for protection, but her quick eve took 

 in every suspicious movement and at length, conscious that she 

 w r as seen, she ran rapidly for a few paces and launched into the 

 air, following the course taken by the first. Her fate was, however, 

 sealed and the plunge of her heavy body in the water succeeded 

 the report of the gun. Carefully laying her on a thwart in the 

 boat we paused to admire the soft brown plumage, spotted with 

 white and glossed with iridescent green. The light was fading 

 in her beautiful hazel eyes and bead-like drops of water rolled 

 from her ruffled breast. She was exceedingly heavy and muscu- 

 lar and upon spreading her wings I was surprised at their gi-eat 

 breadth. 



The preceding account will, I trust, illustrate one phase of the 

 Courlan's nature. But I cannot hope to do full justice to the sub- 



