EALLID^E — THE RAILS — PORZANA. 371 



to have a very extended distribution. During the winter it is found in favorable 

 localities throughout Central America, Mexico, and the extreme southern portions of 

 the United States, and in the summer it extends its migrations as far north as lati- 

 tude 62°. It was found at Fort Resolution, Moose Fort, Fort Rae, and on the Red 

 River. 



Mr. Salvin states that it is the only Rail found about the Lake of Duenas, in 

 Guatemala, where it is migratory, leaving that district on the approach of summer. 

 Mr. Skinner also obtained specimens in the district of Vera Paz. A single bird of 

 this species — a female — was taken alive at St. Croix ; and this was the only instance 

 of its occurrence which came to the knoAvledge of Mr. Edward ISTewton. Leotaud 

 includes this Rail among the visitants of Trinidad, where it is only a bird of pass- 

 age, arriving in December or January, and leaving in April. It is met with very 

 rarely, and exclusively in overflowed districts and meadoAV-lands not far from the 

 sea-shore. It is a visitant also of Cuba, where it is not known to breed. It is men- 

 tioned by Mr. Gosse as being probably a regular winter visitant of Jamaica, two 

 specimens having been taken there at different times. Mr. March also gives it as a 

 bird of that island, and thinks that it is found there at all seasons and in all waters, 

 fresh or salt. He has never met with its eggs. Both Mr. Brace and Mr. Moore note 

 its presence in the Bahamas in Avinter, 



Its movements and the irregular character of its visits to Bermuda are interesting 

 features in its history. Major J. W. Wedderburn ("Naturalist in Bermuda," p. 45) 

 states that it regularly visits Bermuda, arriving early in September. The first speci- 

 men, obtained Sept. 3, 1847, was settling on a branch of a mangrove-tree — a very 

 unusual action for this species, as it very rarely alights on a limb, and this one was 

 four feet from the ground. A few remained throughout the winter. In October, 

 1849, it arrived in immense numbers, and one was killed January 17, and another 

 April 26. J. L. Hurdis, in some supplementary notes (p. 82) added to Major Wed- 

 derburn's paper, states that however heavy and sluggish this bird may appear when 

 disturbed in its marshy retreat, there can be no doubt that it possesses great strength 

 of wing ; and the fact that it never fails to visit Bermvida in its great southern migra- 

 tions is sufficient proof of its powers of flight. A single instance was noted of its 

 being met with as early as August 24. In September it had become rather numer- 

 ous, but were more abundant in October than at any other time. In some seasons 

 these birds all disappeared about the end of October, while in others a few remained 

 to the 25th of November, and some even beyond that time. In 1849 and the three 

 following years this bird visited Bermuda in its spring migrations, appearing in 

 the latter part of February, and remaining through the months of March and April. 

 Ten specimens were shot and three taken alive. During a southAvest gale which pre- 

 vailed on the 9th of October, 1849, thousands of this bird suddenly appeared in the 

 marshes of Bermuda, and on the 29th of the same month not one of this species was 

 to be seen. The whole immense flight had departed on some unexplained journey. 

 This departure could not have been occasioned by any want of food, for the marshes 

 were abundantly supplied, and the prevailing temperature was between 70° and 80° 

 Fahrenheit. Mr. Hurdis states that this bird is also found in its migrations in the 

 Island of Barbadoes, and thinks that there is little cause to doubt that the rivers 

 and marshes of South America are its southern haunts during the winter months. 

 It is very fat Avhen it arrives in the Bermudas — evidently a provision of nature to 

 sustain it in its long and arduous flight from one region to some distant point, as it 

 probably traverses the Atlantic Ocean for thirty or thirty-five degrees of latitude 

 without food. 



