OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 73 



part of its haunt, or when wandering from the cover for a Uttle way in quest of 

 food. The general habits, actions in the water and on the land, and flight, are 

 all very similar to those of the preceding species. Its food consists of worms, 

 insects, mollusks, the buds, shoots and seeds of marine plants, and especially 

 wild rice, and when specially feeding upon the latter this Crake becomes remark- 

 ably fat, its flesh acquiring a delicious flavour, much prized by epicures. Of 

 its habits Dr. Brewer thus writes : — " Early in August, when the reeds have 

 attained their full growth, the Sora Rail resorts to them in great numbers to feed 

 on the seeds, of which it is very fond. This reed (the Zizania clavulosa of 

 Michaux) grows up from the soft, muddy shores of the tide water, where the 

 surface is alternately bare and covered with four or five feet of water, and attains 

 a height of ten feet, covering tracts of many acres in extent, the stalks growing 

 so closely together that a boat, except at high water, can hardly make its way 

 through them. The seed of this plant is long and slender, white in colour, sweet 

 to the taste and very nutritious. When the reeds are in fruit the Eails in great 

 numbers take possession of them. At this season a person walking along the 

 banks of the river may hear their cries in every direction. If a stone is thrown 

 among the reeds, there is a general outcry, and a reiterated kuk-kuk-Jcuk, like the 

 scream of a Guinea Fowl. Any sudden noise produces the same effect. None 

 of the birds, however, can be seen except at high water. "When the tide is 

 low they keep secreted, and a man may walk where there are hundreds of them 

 without seeing a single one." Eail-shooting in the fall is a sport much sought 

 by American gunners. This sport is followed in a narrow boat, and appears to be 

 sufficiently exciting from one cause or another to attract a large number of guns. 

 The marshes are entered while the tide admits, and considerable skill is required 

 not only in navigating the dense forests of reeds, but in balancing the narrow, 

 lurching boat. This feeling of insecurity giving rise to the expression that " you 

 must part your hair in the middle" to avoid an upset. The best sport is obtained 

 on the first day of the shooting, before the birds have been disturbed and scattered. 



Nidification. — The breeding season of the Carolina Crake is in May and 

 June. The nest, a somewhat bulky structure made amongst the reeds and often 

 surrounded by water, is a mere heap of decaying aquatic vegetation, lined with 

 bits of dry reed, rush and coarse grass. The eggs are from seven to twelve 

 (occasionally it is said fourteen) in number, pale buff in ground-colour, spotted 

 and speckled with pale and dark brown, and with underljdng markings of grey. 

 They measure on an average 1'25 inch in length by "9 inch in breadth. Incuba- 

 tion lasts about three weeks. But one brood appears to be reared in the season. 



Diagnostic characters — Crex, with the general colour of the upper 

 part olive-brown, streaked with darker brown and spotted with white ; with 

 the flanks barred white and brown ; and with the centre of the throat, fore 

 cheeks and lores black. Length, 8 inches. 



