Mar., 1916 
THE FARALLON RAILS OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY 
61 
birds. I, myself, am of the opinion that there is no migration at all in this 
region. At any rate I have seen or taken birds in every month of the year, so 
it is certain that these San Diego marshes are at least included in both their 
breeding and winter ranges. It will be almost impossible to judge as to migra- 
tion, however, until their breeding presence or absence has been more defi- 
nitely ascertained at more northern stations. For the present, however, sev- 
eral things give me the strong belief that with us the individuals are resident 
locally the year around. Within San Diego County itself, they seem fairly 
well distributed through the coastal salt marshes. They are, of course, more 
common in some localities than in others, but they have been taken, to my 
knowledge, both in spring and fall, from each of three different marshes in 
this general vicinity. 
A peculiar experience befell me on November 25, 1912. While hunting 
these small birds, one flushed near my feet and flew out over the mud flats 
to a distance of two hundred and fifty yards, and alit. It was low tide and as 
I started in pursuit, the bird was seen to rise and retrace its course directly 
toward me. Finally, as it came within range, 1 took aim at it but did not 
Fig. 26. Soea and Farallon Rails: the bearing of the little Black was always 
PROUD, BUT THE CAROLINA WAS A TYPICAL RAIL, HEAD DOWN, TAIL ERECT, AND FOREVER 
SNEAKING OFF SIDEWAYS AS THOUGH ASHAMED OF HIMSELF 
shoot as I was puzzled by the bird’s actions. Closer and closer it came until 
it was within “aux” range, but still I didn’t shoot, and still the bird held 
steadily to its course. Hastily I decided to try and catch it alive, so I threw 
down my gun, and when it came within reach, I quickly knocked it to the 
ground with my hand. Pouncing after it, I tried to grab it, but it was too 
quick for me and eluded my futile grasp. It was apparently uninjured and 
arose, flew a few yards, dropped into the thick marsh grass and was seen no 
more, although my dog and I searched diligently for some time. 
On March 16, 1915, while on a tramp through the National City marsh, a 
live and uninjured Carolina Rail ( Porzana Carolina) fell my prey, and was 
taken home and confined to the screen porch until such a time as I could con- 
veniently take photographs of it in captivity. This time came on the 18th, and 
as I was returning to the salt marsh for natural surroundings for the photo- 
graph, a live female Farallon Rail was also captured. The bird was seen run- 
ning through a thin place in the marsh growth quite close to me, and was 
pounced upon and seized. It also was confined to the screen porch where the 
two birds proved quite companionable. They ate freely of the food offered 
