748 



U. S. P R. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS— ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



EALLUS VIKGINIANUS, Linn. 



Virginia RaiL 



Rallus virginianus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 176G, 263, (may possibly refer to autumnal Porzanti Carolina.) — Wils. Am. 

 Orn. VII, 1813, 109 ; pi. Ixii, f. I.— Bon. Obg. Wils. 182,5 ; No. 210.— Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 

 205.— Add. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 41 : V, 573 ; pi. 205.— Is. Syn. 216— Ib. Birds Am. V, 1842, 

 174 ; pi. 311 — Cab. Jour. 1856, 427. 



Rallns aiiiifilicus, var. A. Lath. Ind. Orn. II, 1790. 



Rttllus limicvla, Vieill. 



" Rallus rytlii' Itynchos, Vieill- " Gray. 



Figures.— Edwards' Birds, VI, pi. 279.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 62, fig. 1.— AuD. B. of Am. pi. 205; oct. od. V, 

 pi. 311. 



Sp- Ch. — Much smnller than either of the preceding, but resembling them in form, and resembling also R. eltgans in colors. 

 Upper parts olive brown, with longitudinal stripes of brownish black ; line from base of bill over the eye reddish white. Throat 

 white ; neck before, and breast, bright rufous ; abdomen and under tail coverts with transverse bands of black and white, the 

 former being the wider. Upper wing coverts bright rufous chestnut ; under wing coverts black, with transverse lines of white. 

 Total length, (from tip of bill to end of tail,) about 7| inches ; wing, 4 ; tail, Ij inches. 



Hot.— The entire temperate regions of North America ; New Mexico, (Dr. T. C. Henry ;) California, (Mr. R. D. Cutts ;) 

 Oregon, (Dr. Geo. Suckley.) 



Quite frequent in the States on the Atlantic, and now brought, for the first time, from west 

 of the Kocky mountains. This little bird bears a singular resemblance to Rallus elegans in 

 form and colors, and is one of the instances in which size is a specific and distinctive character. 



This species is found along the margins of the bays and rivers on the Atlantic, migrating 

 southward in the autumn, and is remarkable for quickness of movement and swiftness of foot, 

 running on the ground with great facility. It ranges northward into the British possessions. 



List of specimens. 



rORZANA, Vieill ot. 



Porzana, Vikillot, Analyse, p. 61, (1816,) 61. Typo Rallus jiorzana, L. 



Ch. — Bill shorter than the head, compressed, straight ; nostrils in a wide groove, with a largo mcmbrano ; wings moderate ; 

 primaries longer than tcrtiaries ; tail short; tarsus about the longlh of the middle toe ; toes long ; inner toe slightly shorter 

 than the outer. General form f;oini)ri;8sed and slender ; legs rather robust. 



Contains about twenty species, generally inhabiting temperate regions, inhabiting marshes 

 and borders of rivers. In the spring and autumn several species migrate in large numbers. 



