30 GREAT RED-BREASTED RAIL. 



thing that he was desirous of making his prey. Presently he made a sud- 

 den pounce into a bunch of grass, when I immediately heard the piercing 

 cries of the Marsh-Hen, and shortly after came passing by me the suc- 

 cessful murderer with the bird in his mouth.'" 



" In seasons of great drought, when the marshes which are their fa- 

 vourite haunts become dry, these birds have been known entirely to dis- 

 appear from the neighbourhood, and not to return until after heavy rains, 

 having in the mean time, no doubt, retired to the shores of the larger and 

 deeper ponds of the swamps of the interior." 



The young of this species acquire the redness of their plumage du- 

 ring the first summer, and increase in size and beauty for several years, 

 without experiencing any change in their colouring after the spring fol- 

 lowing that of their birth. The sexes are scarcely distinguishable other- 

 wise than by the difference of size, the males being considerably larger 

 than the females. I am not aware that this species raises more than one 

 brood in the season, although, when its eggs have been destroyed, it may 

 lay a second time. 



The flight of this Rail resembles that of the salt-water kind, but 

 is considerably stronger and more protracted. When suddenly flushed, 

 they rise and go off" with a chuck, their legs dangling beneath, and gene- 

 rally proceed in a straight line for some distance, after which they drop 

 among the thickest grass, and run off with surprising speed. In several 

 instances they have been known to stand before a careful pointer. They 

 are less apt to take to the water than the Rallus crepitans, and are by no 

 means so expert at diving. Their number does not appear to be dimi- 

 nished in winter by any migratory movements. Their cries, which do 

 not differ much from those of the other species, are less frequently re- 

 peated after the breeding season. 



Few birds afford better food than this species : during autumn, when, 

 feeding chiefly on grass seeds, they are juicy and tender ; in spring, how- 

 ever, they are less delicate. Their superiority in size over all other birds 

 of the genus that occur in the United States, renders them valuable game 

 to the knowing sportsman and epicure. Their eggs also are excellent a& 

 food, being much preferable to those of the common fowl. 



t regret that I am obliged to conclude this account, without being 

 able to describe the eggs, which, although well known to my friend John 

 Bachman, have not yet come under my inspection, but which I trust I 

 shall have an opportunity of figuring in the concluding plates of my work. 



