390 



ALECTORIDES. 



and Mr. (iosse call it the Scarlet-fronted <lallinule. It is conimon in Jamaica, and 

 nests in .Janiuuy, and even earlier. In I'ebruary }ilv. iMareh obtained unfledged young 

 in a pond near Si)anisiito\vn. It is said to lay eigiit eggs, and these are described as 

 having a elayisli-white gnuuid splashed sjjursely with small spots of sepia-brown. I>y 

 contact with the damj) nest the ground-color is not infrequently changed to dili'eri'nt 

 shades of drab. JNLa jor Wedderburn found it lireeding and not uncommon in ]?ermu(hi, 

 and obtained a niuuberof sjK'cinu'ns during his sta}'. Mr. Ilurdis speaks of it as one 

 of the native birds of the Hernuulas, rearing its young in pools and swamps, where tlie 

 den.se growth of Hags and .sedge renders its pursuit almost impossible. It is more 

 conimon in ( »ctober than at any other tinu', ajtpearing all at once in marslics and 

 jiouds, wheic for months jircviously it iiad been unknown — owing, probiiMy, to an 

 iuHux of nugrat(U'v individuals from the American shore. 



It is said by l^cotaud to be (piite (•oiunu)n in Triniihul, where both in its abode and 

 in its manners it <loes not ap^iear to l)e different from tiie inati'tnliv, though a murli 

 more social bird than the latter. Jt hides itself in the rushes or takes to flight at the 

 least danger, .sonu'times seeking siudter in the branches of tlu' mangrove-trees whidi 

 overliang the watt-r. It can run anu)ng these branches with astonishing rapidity, 

 occasionally extending its wings, as if to preserve its e(pnlil)rium or to avoid losin;^- 

 its footing. Its flight, which is ahuost always accompanied by a harsh cry, is heavy 

 and not well sustained, being apparently retarded by its claws, which are always 

 hanging down. Its tlcsh is eaten, but is not regarded as good. 



Mr. G. C. I'ayhjr met with this species at the Lake of Yojo3-e, and has no doulit 

 that it is conuuou throughout Hontluras; and ]\Ir. Salvin nanu's it as among the birds 

 ■which freipient the Lake of Duenas. Ouatemala — where, however, it is not common. 



It is an occasional visitant along the Atlantic coast, as far to the eastward, at least, 

 as Calais ; and a few occasionally breed in Massachusetts. Mr. CJeorge A. Boardman 

 ol)tained a single specimen of this bird near Calais, Me., in the spring of 1871. An 

 immature exam]ile of this species was shot at Fresh I'ond, Mass., Sept. 3, 1808, and 

 two other indivichials were seen. The specimen obtained had without doubt been 

 hatched in that locality. On the Dth of October, in the sanu' year, Mr. ];>rewster shot 

 another example, and wounded a thii'd in the sanu' place. He also met with an adult 

 bird there on the od of dune. It is more than probable that straggling pairs of this 

 bird occur in favorable situations iu JMassachusetts and breed there. 



Giraud speaks of this si)ecies as a bird seldom observed on Long Island, a few oidy 

 having l)een known to occur on its south shore, while one examphs is recorded as hav- 

 ing been taken on Staten Island. Jfr. (xiraud refers to iut'ormation received by letter 

 from Professor I5aird to the effect that this bird has been occasionally observed on 

 the Susquehanna Kiver and its tributaries, where it was usually noticed in the vicinity 

 of fresh-water streams and ponds. It ajjpeared to be exceedingly timid, to conceal 

 itself among the rank grass, and, like the Eails, seldom to take wing except when 

 performing its migratiuy flight. When surprised it runs nimbly, and if hard presscil 

 takes to the water and swims and dives well. Its food consists of worms, insects, 

 and various vegetable ])roductions which grow in low wet grounds. It was found 

 abundant by Dr. Bannister (jn the Parana, among the reeds of the lagoons. 



Mr. Uidgway frecpu'ntly met with it at Sacranumto, in the tule sloughs, in company 

 with the Coot, and mingling its own guttural noises with the clucking, boisterous 

 notes of the latter species. In the interior it was not seen, although the Coot was 

 abundant in .all the larg(> marshes. According to Dr. Heermann this species is not rare 

 in the marshes in the interior of California, and Dr. Newberry mentions finding it at 

 San Francisco. Dr. Cooper did not meet with it near the sea-coast. 





