. A popular handbook of the birds of Canada and the United States [microform]. Oiseaux; Birds. i86 WADING ing almost every natural enemy they may encotinter. Indeed, the principal defence of the species seems to be in the vigor of their limbs and the compressed form of their bodies, which enables them to pass through the grass and herbage with the utmost rapidity and silence. They have also their covered paths throughout the marshes, hidden by the matted grass, through which they run like rats, without ever being seen; when close pressed, they can even escape the scent of a dog by divi
. A popular handbook of the birds of Canada and the United States [microform]. Oiseaux; Birds. i86 WADING ing almost every natural enemy they may encotinter. Indeed, the principal defence of the species seems to be in the vigor of their limbs and the compressed form of their bodies, which enables them to pass through the grass and herbage with the utmost rapidity and silence. They have also their covered paths throughout the marshes, hidden by the matted grass, through which they run like rats, without ever being seen; when close pressed, they can even escape the scent of a dog by diving over < ids or inlets, rising and then again vanishing with the silencj and celerity of something supernatural. In still pools this bird swims pretty well, but not fast, sitting high on the water with the neck erect, and striking with a hurried rapidity indicative of the distrust of its progress in that element, which it immediately abandons on approaching the leaves of any floating plants, particularly the pond-lilies, over whose slightly buoyant foliage it darts with a nimbleness and dexterity that defies its pursuers, and proves that however well it may be fitted for an aquatic life, its principal progress, and that on which it most depends when closely followed, is by land rather than in the air or the water. When thus employed, it runs with an outstretched neck and erected tail, and, like the wily Com Crake, is the very picture of haste and timidity. On fair ground these birds run nearly as fast as a man. When hard pushed they will betake themselves sometimes to the water, remaining under for several minutes, and holding on closely to the roots of grass or herbage with the head downwards, so as to render themselves generally wholly invisible. When roused at length to flight, they proceed almost with the velocity and in the manner of a duck, flying low and with the neck stretched; but such is their aversion to take wing, and their fondness for skulking, that the marshe
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1903
