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OURSORES. 



This is very observable in the Virginia Rail, the fea- 

 thers forming a thick, close, and almost impervious 

 covering, protecting it from the water, in which it 

 not only wades to a considerable depth, but also 

 swims with great ease. This bird is extremely active 

 upon its feet, and upon a level run would almost be 



a match for a man. If pursued by a dog it will run 

 for a short distance and then tack about, or will rise 

 upon the wing, and with dangling legs fly some dozen 

 yards or so, and then dropping among the grass, 

 scamper off as fast as possible. At the approach of 

 danger it will sometimes cling to the stems of the 

 weeds below the surface of the water, among which 

 it seems almost as much at home as when nimbly 

 skipping about over the broad leaves of the Water 

 Lily which abounds in our inland ponds. 



The nest of this Rail is placed on a small eleva- 

 tion formed by collecting together the stalks of a 



