OT EC a ee es 
( 543°) 
SCOLOPACEOUS COURLAN. 
ArAMUS SCOLOPACEUS, VIEILL. 
PLATE CCCLXXVIL Mate. 
Tuts very remarkable bird appears to be entirely confined to that 
section of the Peninsula of Florida known by the name of “ Ever- 
glades,” and the swampy borders of the many bayous and lagoons 
issuing from that great morass. Few are found farther north than 
“‘ Spring-garden Spring,” of which I have given you an account. I 
have heard of its having been in one instance procured on one of the 
Florida Keys, by Mr Titian Preae, whose specimen, which was a 
young male, has been described and figured in the continuation of W11- 
son’s American Ornithology. None were seen by me on any of these 
islands, and our worthy Pilot told me, that in the course of the many 
years which he had spent in that country he had never met with one 
off the main-land. It did not occur to me on any part of the coast, 
while I was proceeding to the Texas, nor is it to be found in that coun- 
try, which seems very strange, when I look at this bird, and compare 
it with the Rail family, which is so abundant along the whole of that 
coast, and to which it is very nearly allied in some of its habits, more 
_ especially to the Fresh-water Marsh Hen, Rallus elegans. 
The flight of the Scolopaceous Courlan is heavy and of short dura- 
tion; the concavity and shortness of its wings, together with the na- 
ture of the places which it inhabits, probably rendering it slow to re- 
move from one spot to another on wing, it being in a manner confined 
among tall plants, the roots of which are frequently under water. When 
it rises spontaneously it passes through the air at a short distance above 
the weeds, with regular beats of the wings, its neck extended to its full 
length, and its long legs dangling beneath, until it suddenly drops to the 
ground. Few birds then excel it in speed, as it proceeds, if pursued, by 
long strides, quickly repeated, first in a direct course, along paths formed 
by itself when passing and repassing from one place to another, and 
afterwards diverging so as to ensure its safety even when chased by 
the best dogs, or other not less eager enemies inhabiting the half-sub- 
mersed wilderness which it has chosen for its residence. When acci- 
