52 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 67 



Figure 21. — Displays of the King Rail : ( 1 ) In the Advertising Display the tail 

 is cocked and the white undertail coverts extended. (2) The Pursuit Display 

 is given when the male pursues the female during prenuptial courtship; the 

 male walks fast or runs with tail slightly cocked, white undertail coverts 

 extended, and bill wide open. (3) The Invitational Display is assumed by 

 the mated male when the female approaches; the bill points downward and 

 slowly swings from side to side, and the tail is displayed. (4) A variation of 

 the Invitational Display consists in wings arched, head turned to one side, 

 bill open, and tail displayed. 



in the earlier phases of nuptial courtship. While pair formation is in 

 progress, but infrequently during the nuptial courtship period, the 

 female utters a furr or churr sound, like the purr of a cat, especially 

 after the male has given the mating call. 



The male uses the mating call {kik-hik-) infrequently and with less 

 vigor when rallying a newly won mate which often strays when 

 foraging. I observed a good example of the use of this call shortly 

 after pairing on the evening of March 2, 1955. During an 18-minute 

 period beginning at 5 :30 p.m.., a paired male, while standing partially 

 concealed on a ricefield border levee, uttered the complete mating 

 call seven times. Six of the seven times his mate ran to him from a 

 distance of 100 feet or less where she had been feeding. When the 

 female came up beside him, the male spread his white undertail coverts 

 and bent his head and neck so that his bill was perpendicular to and 



