94 Birds of Colorado 



chin white, becoming pale rufous on the breast ; thighs, abdomen and 

 under tail-coverts ashy-black, barred with white ; wing-coverts chestnut, 

 forming a patch ; iris red, bill dusky, paler on the lower mandible, 

 feet yellowish -brown. Length 9-0; wing 4-25; tail 1-6; cuknen 

 1 '55 ; tarsus 1 -5. 



The female is slightly smaller — wing 3-90 ; young birds have the 

 plumage much mottled with black, but the chestnut wing-patch is 

 always present. 



Distribution. — Breeding throughout temperate North America from 

 Labrador and Vancouver Island, south throughout the United States ; 

 wintering in the southern United States and south to Guatemala 

 and Cuba. 



In Colorado the Virginia Rail, though seldom seen, appears to be a 

 fairly common stunmer resident in the eastern plains, extending up into 

 the parks to about 8,000 feet. I have not heard of it on the western 

 slopes, though, as it is found in Utah, it probably occurs. It arrives 

 from the south about the second week in April — Loveland, April 9th 

 (H. G. Smith) — and breeds where suitable conditions exist. Apparently 

 a few birds occasionally winter in the State, as an example was brought 

 to Aiken, February 16th, 1899, which was taken at a spring a few 

 miles from Colorado Springs, and this was at the end of one of the coldest 

 spells known for many years. Mr. J. C. Hersey informs me that a few 

 spend the winter at Barr Lake every year, where it also nests quite, 

 commonly. Breeding records are : Loveland and Fort CoUins (Cooke) 

 Boulder cc, plains (Gale), Fountain and San Luis Lakes (Aiken) ; other 

 records are — Pueblo, May 20th and November 3rd (Beckliam), Wet 

 Mountain Valley (Cooke). 



Habits. — Like all Rails this species is a timid, skulking 

 bird, hiding in the thick reed-beds of swamps and marshes 

 both fresh and salt, and more often heard than seen. 

 It has a kind of grunting note, heard most frequently 

 in the evening or at night when it is more active than 

 in the middle of the day. The Virginia Rail walks with 

 a very deliberate step, with its short tail cocked up, and 

 presents rather a ludicrous appearance. 



The nest is placed on the ground, usually in wet, boggy 

 places, and is composed of rushes and swamp-grasses 

 woven together ; it is sometimes fixed on a dry tussock, 

 and is generally carefully concealed. A clutch of twelve 

 eggs, taken by I. C. Hall near Greeley, June 1st, 1903, 



