NEURAL HISTORY OF THE KING RAIL 



37 



On June 10, 1965, I made a King Kail survey of a section of the 

 Nanticok© River marshes, AVicomico County, across the river from the 

 town of Vienna. This was a typical muskrat marsh in which Olney's 

 three-square was dominant, with rosemallow scattered throughout. 

 Four King Rail nests, located at the bases of rosemallow plants, were 

 found in a 20-acre section of the marsh. The life form of this plant, 

 with its cradle-like base and broad leaves forming a protective cover 

 above, makes it well suited for nest cover (fig. 18) . 



Figure 18. — Nest and eggs of King Rail in Xanticoke River marsli, Vienna, 

 Wicomico County, Md., June 10, 1965. Xest found in section of marsh domi- 

 nated by Olney's three-square (SGirpus olneyi) interspersed with rose mallow 

 {HiMsciis moscheutos). Four nests found in this marsh were all in rose 

 mallow. Because of the life form of this plant, the rail does not have to build 

 a canopy over its nest as it does when using other plants. 



