CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. I49 



into flocks of from twenty to thirty and migrate southwards in the 

 early autumn. (Cecil Selwyn.) 



Family XVIII. RA-LLID^. Rails, Gallinules, Coots. 



LXXXI. RALLUS Linn.eus. 1758. 



208. King Rail. 



Ralliis elegans AuD. 1S35. ^ :_; ' 



Casual around Montreal in summer. (Dionne.) 



This large and handsome rail, which until recently was considered 

 to be only a casual visitor to Ontario, is now known to breed plenti- 

 fully in the marshes all along the River St. Clair. It has also been 

 found at other points in southern Ontario, but the St. Clair flats 

 seem to be its favourite breeding place. Migrant at Toronto, Ont., 

 probably accidental; one was taken in September, 1903, and there 

 are two other local records. (/. H. Fleming.) 



It arrives in May and leaves in September. (Mcllwraith.) Ob- 

 served once at Plover pond, Middlesex county, Ont. (R. Elliott.) 



Mr. Hine and Mr. Seton have seen this species in Manitoba, where 

 it is evidently a casual. 



212. Virginia Rail, 



Ralliis viyginianus Linnt. 1766. 



A common summer migrant in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain.) 

 Not uncommon along the St. Lawrence. {Dionne.) A casual on 

 the coast of Labrador, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Common 

 in western Quebec and eastern Ontario, where it breeds. Generally 

 distributed throughout Ontario. A common summer resident in 

 eastern Manitoba. 



Recorded from York Factory, Hudson bay, by Dr. Bell. {Preble.) 

 I have flushed this rail in many of the Manitoba marshes but never 

 found a nest. In July, 1906, flushed it at Hirzel, Touchwood hills, 

 Boulder lake and Little Manito lake, Sask., but did not see it 

 further west. {Geo. Atkinson.) 



Found on both the mainland and Vancouver island ; not common ; 

 breeds. {Fannin.) Tolerably common summer resident in the 



