OF NORTH AMERICA. 49 
08. VIRGINIA RAIL. 
Rallus virginianus. 
Not often known to sportsmen as being 
more than a smaller bird of No. 56, or a dark 
colored bird of No. 59. In plumage it is al- 
most an exact copy on a small scale of No. 
56, measuring about 9 inches in length and 
133 in extent. 
They are more or less abundant in the 
marshes, both salt and fresh, from Massachu- 
setts southward, of course leaving its more 
northern range when cold weather approaches. 
They also are found in small numbers on the 
western coast, and are not rare in the interior. 
Their home appears to be in the marshes 
from New York to Carolina, and here they 
are found in considerable numbers, affording 
good sport, but there is not meat enough 
upon them to make them of much value as 
rood: The old sayine “as thin asa rail,” 
might have been a comparison with this 
bird, without deviation from the sense. Our 
birds in the north in summer are not near so 
numerous as the succeeding species, but only 
a few gunners make any distinction, so that 
perhaps more are seen than are reported. 
