72 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 67 



upper wing coverts tipped with white and crossed by another narrow white 

 band about 7 mm. anterior to the tip ; sides of head as in pale phase adult, but 

 the light ochraceous-buff areas cross-barred with narrow dusky lines (actually 

 the tips of the feathers) ; lower throat pale, light ochraceous-buff narrowly 

 barred with grayish hair brown to deep drab ; anterior part of breast more 

 heavily washed with pale ochraceous-buff; rest of breast and entire abdomen 

 white, crossed by broad, closely spaced, but somewhat broken bands of grayish 

 hair brown, the middle of the abdomen and lower breast unbarred; sides and 

 flanks dusky grayish olive-brown barred with white or huffy white ; thighs and 

 vent like sides of breast but somewhat darker; under tail coverts and under 

 wing coverts as in adult. 



Call notes of young rails remain essentially the same during the 

 second month of life as they were during the first month, but the 

 voice becomes a little hoarser and deeper. During the second month 

 the young rail frequently exercises by jumping up and down, flap- 

 ping its wings at the same time. 



The begging display may still be observed occasionally during the 

 ninth and tenth weeks, but it soon disappears. 



A considerable change in calls occurs during the ninth and tenth 

 weeks. Some of them now approximate the calls of the adults. The 

 call most like that of an adult bird is a raucous crying squawk or cat- 

 like "meow." This call is made when a bird is separated from the 

 family group or is excited. The typical jupe-juqye-juqye-ddll of the 

 adult was not heard until the fifth month. 



First winter plumage 



For most individuals the first winter plumage is similar to that of 

 the adult. Some individuals, however, have whitish juvenal-like 

 plumage of the underparts and less distinct markings about the face. 

 Most rails in juvenal and first- winter plumage have some white bar- 

 ring on the wing coverts. This is also true of some adults. 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON BEHAVIOR OF YOUNG 

 Sleeping 



From the time captive birds hatched until they were approximately 

 a month and a half old, the three to six occupying tlie same cage slept 

 together. Thereafter, as they assumed a somewhat different sleeping 

 posture, they usually slept separately, but sometimes still slept as a 

 group in the same part of the cage. 



During the first 2 weeks after hatching, a warm quart-sized bottle 

 of water was placed in the box with the downy young. ^Mien sleepy 

 the chicks would huddle around the bottle, but not always in contact 

 with one another. However, if the bottle was removed, the cliicks 

 huddled together when sleeping. 



When just a few days old, chicks sleep in a prostrate position. They 

 simply flop down on their bellies, usually with one side of their heads 



