36 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 67 



Both species are common there, probably because of the abundance of 

 such prime rail foods as blue crabs {CaUinectes sapidus), mud crabs 

 {Sesarma retlculatum) ^ red-jointed fiddler crabs, periwinkle snails 

 [L'lttonna i prorata) ^ and salt-marsh snails {Malampus Jineatus). 



In a brackish bay marsh community at Elliott Island, Dorchester 

 County, on May 28, 1959, I heard King Rails calling between 11 p.m. 

 and midnight. Most were calling from the narrow band of big cord- 

 grass that characteristically borders the sides of Pokata Creek. Soras, 

 Virginias, and Black Eails {LateraJlus ja?naice?isis) were heard at 

 the same time and in the same general area, but mostly in a salt- 

 meadow marsh type community. 



In a fresh bay marsh community north of Savannah Lake, Elliott 

 Island, King Eails occur where the switchgrass marsh extends inland 

 for a mile or so forming an understory beneath a loblolly pine {Pinus 

 taeda) forest (fig. IT). It seems rather strange to flush a King Rail 



FiGrEE 17. — Habitat of King Rail in loblolly pine {Pinus taeda) and switchgrass 

 {Panicum virgatum) association, Elliott Island. Dorchester County, Md., 

 Augnst 1967. (Photograph by Luther Goldman.) 



from beneath a stand of loblolly pine. The Short -billed Marsh Wren 

 was found nesting and wintering in this same pine-switchgrass asso- 

 ciation. Switchgrass, which attains a height of 5 feet, retains its life 

 form throughout the year, thus affording excellent cover, especially 

 in winter when several other marsh plants have deteriorated. 



