The Light-footed Rail 



Taken in San Diego 



Photo by Dickey 



GETTING SETTLED 

 NEST OF LIGHT-FOOTED RAIL IN SALICORNIA 



On another occasion, in late autumn, I saw several of these birds 

 feeding over the shallows of a tidal pool at noonday. Although the place 

 was full of Shore-birds, the Rails were self-conscious and furtive, like over- 

 grown boys. One lonesome hobbledehoy I caught consorting with 

 "peeps." He moved off with violent gesticulations, alternately bowing 

 his head to the water and craning it upward to the utmost. And all the 

 time he jetted the tail, flashing its under white as a sort of staccato punc- 

 tuation of effort. Upon retiring across the mud, however, my bird acted 

 a little prudish, pausing now and again with uplifted foot, as though look- 

 ing for the least muddy spot, and withdrawing it again quickly as though 

 its worst fears had been realized. 



It is only toward evening that the Los Angeles Clapper Rails become 

 most active. As the sun sets, if the season is right, one may see an anxious 

 mother stealing forth from the edge of the protecting salicornia and leading 

 a little company, six or eight, of tottering youngsters all tricked out in cos- 

 tumes of shining black. Baby rails are ineffably cute. Whether it be 

 the mother instinct or the bear instinct in us, we cannot tell, but I never 



1535 



