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 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 fiats 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, I took aim at it but did not Fig. 26. SORA AND F-RALLOIq RAILS; THE BEARIIqG OF THE LITTLE BLACK WAS ALWAYS PROUD, RUT THE CAROLINA WAS A TYPICAL HALL, HEAD DOWN, TAlL ERECT, AND FOREVER SNEAKI.NG OFF SIDEWAYS AS THOUGH ASHAllIED OF HIMSELF shoot as I was puzzled by the bird's actions. Closer an'd 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 (Porzaa 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