544 SCOLOPACEOUS COURLAN. 
dentally surprised, it rises obliquely out of its recess, with the neck 
greatly bent downward, and although its legs dangle for a while, they 
are afterwards extended behind in the manner of those of the Heron 
tribe. At such times these birds are easily shot; but if they are only 
wounded, it would be vain to pursue them. Although of considerable 
size and weight, they are enabled, by the great length and expansion 
of their toes to walk on the broad leaves of the larger species of Nym- 
pheea found in that country. They swim with the same buoyancy as 
the Coots, Gallinules, and Rails. 
The nest of this bird is placed among the larger tufts of the tallest 
grasses that grow at short distances from the bayous, many of which 
are influenced by the low tides of the Gulf. It is so well fastened to 
the stems of the plants, in the same manner as that of Rallus crepitans, 
as to be generally secure trom inundation; and is composed of rank 
weeds matted together, and forming a large mass, with a depression in 
the centre. The eggs, which rarely exceed five or six, are large for 
the size of the bird. The young are hatched early in May, and follow 
their parents soon after birth, being covered with coarse tufty feathers. 
of a black colour. 
The Ever-glades abound with a species of large greenish snail, on 
which these birds principally feed; and, from the great number of 
empty shells which are found at the foot of the nest and around it, 
it is probable that the sitting bird is supplied with food by her mate. 
Their notes, when uttered while they are on wing, are a sort of cackle, 
but when on the ground, much louder, especially during the pairing 
season, or when they are started by the report of a gun. The flesh 
of the young is pretty good eating. Although it is alleged that this 
bird occasionally alights on trees, I have never seen it in such a situa- 
tion. 
ARDEA SCOLOPACEA, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p.647.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 701. 
ARaMUS scoLopacets, Ch. Bonap. Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 39. 
ScoLopaceous Courtan, ARAmuS scoLoPaceus, Ch. Bonap. Amer. Ornith. vol. iv. 
p- 111, pl. 26, fig. 2.— Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 68. 
Adult Male. Plate CCCLX XVII. 
Bill long, being double the length of the head, rather slender, but 
strong, much compressed, straight, its breadth less before the nostrils 
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