BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. 14;^ 



51. Rallus virginianus Linn. 

 Virginia Rail. 



Summer resident, abundant in a few localities. 



SEASONAL OCCURRENCE. 



April 14, iSgg, one heard, Fresh Pond Swamps, A. H. Hathaway. 



April 20 — September 25. 

 November 9, 1898, one seen, Pout Pond, A. H. Hathaway. 



NESTING DATES. 



May 15 — 25. 



The Virginia Rail breeds abundantly in the Fresh Pond Swamps, very 

 commonly at Great Meadow and Rock Meadow, sparingly or sporadically in a 

 few other places. In the locality first named its numbers have increased con- 

 siderably since the cattail flags became so widely dispersed over the broad 

 marshes lying to the westward of Alewife Brook. It is now found most fre- 

 quently and numerously among these flags, but in earlier days its favorite 

 summer haunts were the Brickyard and Maple Swamps, where it usually nested 

 in thickets of alders or patches of briers. It prefers brush-grown to open, grassy 

 meadows, although rank beds of cattail flags suit it best of all. Like all its near 

 relatives it is a retiring, elusive bird, much oftener heard than seen. In spring 

 and early summer the male utters a guttural cut, cut, cutta, ciitta, cntta, which 

 may be heard at a distance of half a mile or more when the air is still. Equally 

 characteristic of the breeding season, but apparently common to both sexes, is 

 another cry which consists of a rapid succession of low yet penetrating grunting 

 sounds not unlike those produced by a hungry pig. In late summer and early 

 autumn the calls given by both old and young birds are closely similar to those 

 used at these seasons by Carolina Rails. 



Most of our Virginia Rails depart for the south before the end of August, 

 but a few linger through September, and stragglers are occasionally seen in 

 October. It is probable that these late birds come from more northern breeding 

 grounds, although there is no marked migration here, either in spring or autumn. 



