54 



Bird -Lore 



voice of the Little Black Rail,* it seems unnecessary to give, in this con- 

 nection, anything more than the briefest description of its notes. 



They vary considerably in number, as well as somewhat in form and 

 quality. The commonest forms are as follows: 



Kik-kik-kik, queeah, 



Kik-kik-kik, ki- queeah . 



Kik-ki-ki-ki, ki- queeah. 



Kic-kic, kic-kic, kic-kic, ktc-kic, ki-queeah. 



The kic-kic notes are similar to those uttered by the Virginia Rail when 

 calling to her young, but much louder. Although usually delivered in 

 rather rapid succession, they are divided by distinct if short intervals into 

 groups of twos or threes, giving them the effect of being uttered with a 



YELLOW RAIL. (One-half natural size) 



certain degree of hesitancy. The terminal queeah or ki-queeah is shrill and 

 slightly tremulous, reminding one by turns of the rolling chirrup which a 

 chipmunk makes just as he darts into his hole or of the squealing crow of 

 a young rooster. All the notes, although not apparently very loud when 



* It has been since attributed, on what appears to me to be inconclusive evidence, to the Yellow Rail. Auk, 

 xix, No. i, Jan., 1902, pp. 94. 95- 



