Gbe Marblcr 51 



flush seldom, whether feeding or brooding eggs. True to Rail nature, they 

 would rather run away. Hence no nests of any sort are more difficult to 

 find than theirs. To a very slight extent the habit prevails of beginning 

 abortive nests. 



So far as discovered, the eggs of the Yellow Rail would seem to range 

 from eight to ten in number. Sets of nine are perhaps most common. The 

 eggs have never yet been found in layers. In size, the eggs of this Rail are 

 very uniform. In ground color the variations are simply between lighter 

 and darker shades of buff. The markings vary little , and little more among 

 different sets than between the various members of a single set. Seldom are 

 even small scattered spots to be found on the body of the eggs, the markings 

 being, in the great majority of cases, confined to about two-thirds the appar- 

 ent area of the apex of the egg. In character, spotting prevails, with a stip- 

 pled effect. On some eggs the effect is blotchy to a slight degree, the lilac 

 " under-markings " so characteristic of eggs of the Virginia Rail, occurring 

 sparsely in the caps of brighter color. 



This Black and Yellow Rail colony is very small. I doubt, greatly, if 

 there be more than a pair or two of the Black Rails, while there has never 

 been found any evidence that of the Yellow Rails there are more than six 

 or eight mature birds in the colony. The birds appear to be very sociable, 

 nesting all within a very small area. But a very slight increase could be 

 discerned in three years, although there must certainly be not less than twen- 

 ty young birds hatched in the colony every year, whether eggs are taken 

 or not. 



These Rails are largely nocturnal in their habit. Of a gloriously clear 

 moonlight morning, in early June, the ticking was maintained whole quar- 

 ter-hours at a time, by at least two males near together. At three o'clock 

 this dry yet throaty medley seemed wierd enough, commingling with the 

 " coot-coot-coot-coot-coot " of the Short-eared Owls and the hooting of the 

 Sharp-tailed Grouse, all softly echoing across the musky marshes while yet 

 moonlight and daylight were struggling for victory. 



Our plate shows three eggs of the Yellow Rail, from a set of ten 

 taken by Mr. Peabody in Benson county, North Dakota, June 4th, 1901. 

 Incubation had begun. The ten eggs are practically alike as regards size 

 and markings, our plate showing both size and colors accurately. 



