RALLIDiE — THE RAILS — RALLUS. 
355 
Mr. Lewis states that, it is well known to the Delaware Rail-shooters as the “ King- 
Rail.” It frequents the fresh-water marshes of the interior, and. feeds on the same 
food as the Sora Rail, being often found in the same localities as that bird. He met 
with it in greater abundance farther south, and rarely noticed it north of the Dela- 
ware marshes. Its flesh he regards as very similar to that of the Sora, but as not 
being quite so delicate, though at times equally juicy and tender. It is found in 
fresh-water marshes only, according to his experience, and was not met with on the 
sea-board. It seems to have the same wild skulking habit of the Sora, and its flight 
is short and labored ; when once raised it is easily shot. When wounded it can both 
swim and dive well, and conceals itself in the water among the reeds. Mr. Lewis 
shot one in July, on an upland marsh in the midst of a thick wood in Maryland. 
Mr. Audubon regarded it as being altogether a fresh-water bird, and confined to the 
Southern States ; and in this first supposition he was undoubtedly correct ; for "what 
was supposed to be exceptional in the Pacific coast Rail is only evidence of the 
distinctness of species ; but he was in error in thinking it exclusively southern. 
This bird is abundant about Chicago, on Lake Ivoskonong, Wis., in Minnesota, 
and in other Western States ; and we have no doubt that the Rail referred to by 
Mr. Mcll wraith as breeding about Hamilton, Canada West, is this bird, and not, as 
he supposed, the crepitans. I saw it abundant in the market at Chicago about the 10th 
of April in an unusually late season. Mr. J. A. Allen met with it in Salt Lake Valley, 
where he found it very abundant. 
Audubon speaks of it as an excessively shy bird, running with celerity, and when 
caught crying like the Common Fowl. It resides throughout the year in the fresh- 
water marshes in the interior of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, and 
Texas. The same author was informed that this bird is now and then obtained near 
Philadelphia, where it is considered very rare, and is known as the “ King Rail.” 
In South Carolina, according to Dr. Bachman, although not so numerous as other 
species, it is not rare in favorable situations. Wherever there are extensive marshes 
by the side of sluggish streams, this Rail may be found gliding swiftly among the 
tangled rank grasses and aquatic weeds, or standing on the broad leaves of the water- 
lily ; and there, on some little island of the marsh, it builds its nest. Dr. Bachman 
states that he has found twenty pairs breeding within a space having a diameter of 
thirty yards. The nests were placed on the ground and raised to the height of six 
or eight inches by means of withered weeds and grasses, the number of the eggs 
being nine or ten. He found a few with eggs about the middle of March, but the 
greater number of these birds begin to breed about the middle of April. They 
repair their nests from time to time, and return to them several years in succession. 
The young — which are at first covered with a black down — leave the nest as soon 
as they are hatched, and follow their parents along the borders of streams and pools, 
where they feed on insects, seeds, tadpoles, leeches, and small crayfish. Dr. Bach- 
man several times attempted to domesticate this bird, but failed, probably on account 
of being unable to obtain a sufficient quantity of suitable food. When grown it feeds 
on a variety of substances, including seeds and other vegetable productions. In its 
gizzard were found the seeds of grasses which grow in the places it frequents. On 
one occasion its stomach was crammed with the seeds of the Arundo tecta ; and that 
of another bird contained a quantity of oats which had evidently been picked up on a 
newly-sown field near the marsh. It is a bird difficult to shoot, as it is not easily 
raised, and because it confines itself to swampy places, covered with smilax and other 
briers and thus rendered inaccessible. In seasons of great drought, when the marshes 
become dry, it has been known entirely to disappear from the neighborhood, retiring 
