_Ortygometra Jamaicensis._
_Rallus Jamaicensis_, +Gmel.+—Aud. pl. 349.
_Ortygometra Jamaicensis_, +Steph.+
[117] Length 6 inches, expanse 9³⁄₄, flexure 3, tail 1²⁄₁₀, rictus
⁷⁄₁₀, tarsus 1¹⁄₁₀ (nearly), middle toe 1¹⁄₁₀. Intestine 12¹⁄₂
inches; two cæca, slender, one ¹⁄₂ inch, the other ¹⁄₃ inch, long.
A specimen of this little Crake was brought to me in April, alive and
unhurt. It lived in a cage two days, but though I enclosed with it a
vessel containing water and mud, with aquatic weeds in a growing state,
and scattered on it crumbs of bread and pounded corn, it scarcely ate.
Once or twice I observed it picking in the mud, but in general it would
not even walk on it. Yet it was not at all timid. Its motions were very
deliberate; slowly raising its large feet, and then setting them down,
often without making a step. The neck was usually drawn in, short;
and then it had little of the appearance of a Rail, but rather of a
passerine bird; but when it walked, the neck was more or less extended
horizontally, and now and then bridled up: the head was carried low.
The throat was often in slight vibration, when standing still. I
observed no flirting, nor erection of the tail.
On two or three occasions, I have seen the species. Near the end of
August, pursuing a White Gaulin in the morasses of Sweet River,
several of these little Rails, one at a time, flew out from the low
rushes before my feet, and fluttering along for a few yards, with a
very laboured flight, dropped in the dense rush again. Their manner
of flight, and their figure greatly resembled those of a chicken; the
legs hung inertly down. I saw another in February, by the border of
the River at the Short Cut, flying with the same feeble and laborious
motion, from one tuft of herbage to another, whence it would not emerge
till almost trodden on.
I have not heard it utter any sound; but Robinson, in describing two
that were brought to him alive in October, 1760, says, “their cry was
very low, and resembled that of a Coot, when at a great distance.” He
notices also their peculiar mode of flight, as well as their habit of
squatting. “Several,” he observes, “were killed accidentally, by the
negroes at work; as they are so foolish as to hide their heads, and,
cocking up their rumps, think they are safe, when they are easily
taken.” (MSS. iii. 112.) He says elsewhere, “The negroes in Clarendon
call it _Cacky-quaw_, by reason of its cry, which consists of three
articulations; the negroes in Westmoreland call it _Johnny Ho_, and
_Kitty Go_, for the same reason.” (iii. 134.)
The gizzard of the one that I examined, contained a few hard seeds. The
body is much compressed.
The speckled plumage, rufous neck, and scarlet eyes, constitute this a
species of much beauty.