The California Black Rail 



Mr. Frank Stephens, writing in March, 1909, • credits "a lad" with having 

 obtained a deep insight into the nesting habits of C. j. coturniculus in the 

 extensive stretches of salicornia just south of San Diego. The veteran 

 oologist, A. M. Ingersoll, evidently relying in part upon the experience of 

 this same "lad," reports 2 the outcome of four seasons' intensive work in 

 the marshes between National City and Chula Vista. Lastly, Laurence 



Taken in San Diego 



Photo by L. Huey and D. R. Dickey 



PACIFIC BLACK RAIL IN CAPTIVITY 



TWO VIEWS OF THE SAME BIRD 



M. Huey, working partly with and for Mr. Donald R. Dickey, confirms 

 the essential conclusions of previous workers and adds much lively infor- 

 mation of his own. 3 



All unite in testifying to the extreme difficulty of coming upon nests 

 of the California Black Rail. Ingersoll made twenty-five special collecting 

 trips to the colony to secure one bird and three sets of eggs. The nameless 

 "lad" thought he was lucky if he found a nest in half-a-day's steady search. 

 Huey has spent hours and even days on the rail marshes. Nests are 

 hidden in the depths of the salicornia (Salicornia ambigua, a fleshy-leaved 

 plant which grows to a height of a foot or two), and the heavy foliage had 

 to be searched inch by inch, either by a deft swing of the foot or else on 



1 The Condor, Vol. XI., March, 1909, pp. 47-49. 



2 The Condor, Vol. XL, July, 1909, pp. 123-127. 



3 Reported in the Condor, Vol. XVIII. , March, 1916, pp. 59-62. 



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