206 WADING BIRDS. 



the Middle States in November, at the commencement of 

 frost. It revisits Pennsylvania early in May, and is soon 

 after seen in the fresh marshes of this part of Massachu- 

 setts. How far they retire, in the course of the winter, 

 towards the south, is yet unknown, though from its absence, 

 apparently from the warmer parts of the continent, it pro- 

 bably migrates little farther than the southern extremity of 

 the Union. Its habit of closely hiding in almost inaccessi- 

 ble swamps and marshes, renders it a difficult task even to 

 ascertain its presence at any time ; and, like the preceding, 

 it skulks throughout most part of the day in the long sedge 

 and rushes, only venturing out to feed in the shade and ob- 

 scurity of the twilight. Its food is most commonly marsh 

 insects and their larvae, as well as small worms and univalve 

 shell-fish, rarely, if ever, partaking of vegetable diet. 



The Virginian Rail commences laying soon after its arri- 

 val, in the early part of May. The nest, situated in the 

 wettest part of the marsh, is fixed in the bottom of a sedgy 

 tussock, and composed of withered grass and rushes. The 

 eggs, from 6 to 10, are almost exactly of the form and color 

 of those of the preceding species, and are equally similar 

 with those of the European Water Rail, being of a dirty 

 white, or pale cream color, sprinkled with specks of brown- 

 ish-red and pale purple, most numerous at the great end. In 

 the Middle States, they are believed to raise two broods in 

 the season. The female is so much attached to her eggs, after 

 sitting, as sometimes to allow of being taken up by the hand 

 rather than desert the premises, which affection appears the 

 more necessary, as the male seems to desert his mate, and 

 leave her in the sole charge of her little family. 



About the 18th of June, in this vicinity, in a wet part 

 of the salt marsh, making into a fresh meadow, near Charles' 

 River, one moonlight evening as late as 9 o'clock, I heard 

 a busy male of this species, calling out at short intervals, in 



