252 YELLOW-BREASTED RAIL. 
pairs, in May 1832. About New Orleans it commences breeding at the 
same period. Dr Bacuman has procured specimens near Charleston. I 
have also found a few near Vincennes on the Wabash River in summer, 
when they had young broods. In the course of my stay at the Silver 
Springs in Fast Florida, I observed a good number of these birds 
along the margins of the lakes and swampy bayous, and had ample 
opportunities of assuring myself that this species is far from being 
nocturnal, as authors have alleged. at least when in places where they 
are under no apprehension of danger. In those sultry solitudes I 
have at times seen them following the margins of the muddy shores, 
with delicate and measured steps, until attracted by something worthy 
of their attention, when they suddenly jerked their tail upwards and 
for a moment disappeared. Again, they would gracefully leap upon 
the slender twig of some low shrub or bush, apparently in search 
of small snails or other objects, jerking their tail at every move- 
ment. There it was that I again saw the extraordinary power of con- 
traction which their body is able to assume while they are pushing for- 
ward between two or more stubborn branches. They were all so gen- 
tle that I at times approached within a few yards of them, when they 
would now and then look cunningty at me, rise more erect for a mo- 
ment, and then resume their occupations. 
When searched for by a dog, they seem as if determined to put him 
out by continual manceuyring, running and cutting backwards within 
a few yards of extent until the dog can no longer follow the last trail. 
Just then they rise on wing, or run off to some other spot equally 
adapted for security. A friend of mine who resides in New Orleans, 
and has shot some hundreds of this species, told me that the best me- 
thod of obtaining a shot is to lie concealed near an opening in the grass, 
and call the bird out of cover by imitating its notes, when in a few 
minutes, being extremely pugnacious, it comes to the clear space, and 
may be easily shot. Its flesh is delicate and savoury. 
The nest somewhat resembles that of Rallus elegans. It is gene- 
rally placed upon the ground in the centre of a thick tuft of grass, 
and the bed of it is at times elevated above the soil to the height of 
four or five inches. It is composed of weeds of various kinds, and 
is now and then covered over in the same manner as that of our 
Meadow Lark. The eggs are from eight to ten, pure white, thin- 
shelled, and measure 14 inch by nearly seven eighths. The young are 
at frst black, and are able to follow their parents almost immediately 
