The Light-footed Rail 
Taken in San Diego Photo by Dickey 
GETTING SETTLED 
NEST OF LIGHT-FOOTED RAIL IN SALICORNIA 
On another occasion, in late autumn, I saw several of these birds 
feeding over the shallows of a tidal pool at noonday. Although the place 
was full of Shore-birds, the Rails were self-conscious and furtive, like over¬ 
grown boys. One lonesome hobbledehoy I caught consorting with 
“peeps.” He moved off with violent gesticulations, alternately bowing 
his head to the water and craning it upward to the utmost. And all the 
time he jetted the tail, Hashing its under white as a sort of staccato punc¬ 
tuation ol effort. Upon retiring across the mud, however, my bird acted 
a little prudish, pausing now and again with uplifted foot, as though look¬ 
ing for the least muddy spot, and withdrawing it again quickly as though 
its worst fears had been realized. 
ft is only toward evening that the Los Angeles Clapper Rails become 
most active. As the sun sets, if the season is right, one may see an anxious 
mother stealing forth from the edge of the protecting salicornia and leading 
a little company, six or eight, of tottering youngsters all tricked out in cos¬ 
tumes of shining black. Baby rails are ineffably cute. Whether it be 
the mother instinct or the bear instinct in us, we cannot tell, but I never 
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