Olson and Rauzon • WAKE ISLAND RAIL 
681 
were almost as tall as adults but still had very few 
hard feathers, grey (Lyons 1940, 3 Sep). 
Nest and Eggs. —"The nest is constructed on 
the ground as saucer-like depressions in areas of 
dense ground cover. One to three camouflage 
speckled eggs are laid” (Spencer 1959). Lyons’ 
photographs (e.g., Fig. 4A) show that the eggs 
were ovate and speckled; a rough estimate based 
on comparisons of chick size and human finger 
size suggests the eggs of G. wakensis may have 
measured about 20 X 30 mm, which is smaller 
than the various measurements given for G. 
phillippensis (Taylor 1998). Vaughn (1945:27- 
28) found the rails nesting on bare sand at the 
base of the scrubby beech [sic] magnolias 
[■Heliotropium ] in April 1938. laying a clutch of 
four or five eggs, judging by the number of 
young in the nest. Lyons (1939, 16 Sep) 
discovered two nests side by side under low 
Cordia bushes. There were many eggs and maybe 
two birds on each nest as three flushed and one 
remained. Lyons was certain that two birds were 
on the nest on which the one bird remained. Two 
days later there were three nests where there were 
two before, each with 6. 3. and 7 eggs, 
respectively. At least five birds were in atten¬ 
dance at the nests. A few twigs and leaves were 
over the backs of the birds as they sat on the 
nests (Lyons 1939. 18 Sep). Two days later (20 
Sep) the eggs and birds were gone. 
On Peale Island the “(day after brush where 
birds lived cleared away—no nests seen—be¬ 
tween Old & New Mydroponicum and Circle). 
Bird with egg in mouth motions as if it would pick 
it up but [put?) egg on ground. Bird saw me and 
lelt. In a few minutes I sneaked back to see if bird 
had returned—egg gone, no sign of egg, bird or 
nest within 20 ft [6 m]” (Lyons 1939. 5 Oct). 
Parental Care.— "There is an indication that 
young of several broods are brought together and 
the parent birds sharing the responsibility of 
caring lor the group as a whole. The young 
nestlings are similar to domestic chickens in being 
able to forage for themselves soon after hatching” 
(Spencer 1959). 
An adult and a young bird, end of down stage, 
and the adult left the young, which moved straight 
away front my approach and into cover (bush). 
The adult circled around, cackling only slightly to 
30 feel (JO m) from where it left the young (Lyons 
•939. 13 Jim). Newly hatched young (2 attended 
by 5 adults) moved very rapidly with a creeping 
motion, while the adults stood around and 
complained and warned the young who scurried 
away, keeping under cover (Lyons 1939, 23 Oct). 
"Caught a small rail at end of walk front of south 
wing of hotel. Froze under some Boerhaavia 
diffusa (a mat like growth). 1 lay down with the 
young bird in my hands and watched the mature 
birds, which came within 3 ft [1 mj, only one, 
possibly the mother, made a menacing gesture by 
advancing in a hunched position with the w'ings 
held open and slanted backwards. Six adult birds 
gathered as the little one cheeped constantly.” 
(Lyons 1939, 26 Oct). Saw young still in down 
unaccompanied by adults (Lyons 1939, 12 Nov). 
Flightless rail very busy now bringing up young 
(Lyons 1939. J3 Nov). Latest baby seen in last 
day or two is about 4 days old—single nurse 
(Lyons 1939. 19 Nov). About as many young as 
adults—none in down—mostly half weight, stand 
2/3 as high, a dull buff grey. Today W'atched two 
young heckle their nurse: peeped, butted into her, 
pulled at her feathers (acted like a calf when still 
hungry and no milk flowing). The nurse was 
unruffled and ran away half-heartedly with the 
young at its heels, butting and pulling feathers 
(Lyons 1939, 29 Nov). Babies apparently all 
grown up, some look young but not under 
supervision and have adult type plumage (Lyons 
1940, 10 Feb). At the PA A compound discovered 
rail nest in chicken yard, under Cordia but no 
ground cover. In the single nest, the chicks were 
nearly all hatched at 5:30 PM. Three eggs were 
left, and the nurses had babies away as far as 30 ft 
[9 m) about 7 were in the nest, about six with 
nurses—2 babies dead (Lyons 1940, 20 Jul). At 
the PAA compound at noon the three extra eggs had 
been hatched, only 2 young were in nest and the rest 
were scattered over the chicken yard with about 7 
nurses—2 more had died (Lyons 1940, 21 Jul). By 
today there were no babies left in the chicken yard 
and all were out under a patch of Cordia across the 
road and south (Lyons 1940. 24 Jul). Rails seen 
running toward Cordia patch with caterpillars to 
where babies stay (Lyons 1940, 29 Jul ). 
Synthesis of Phenology, 
Cooperative Breeding, and Molt 
All known specimens of Wake Island Rail, 
except those of unknown date collected in 1892, 
were taken from June through November (Ta¬ 
ble I). Thus, we have information on molt and 
breeding from only half of whatever cycles to 
which the specie s may have been subject, which 
may not have been strictly annual. Lyons’ 
