ONTARIO. 



Hab. Fresh water marshes of the Eastern Province of the United 

 States, from the Middle States, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and Kansas 

 southward. Casually north to Massachusetts, Maine and Ontario. 



Nest a rude mass of reeds and grass, on marshy ground close to the 

 water. 



Eggs 6 to 12 ; buff or cream color, speckled and blotched with reddish- 

 brown. 



This large and handsome Rail which, until recently, was 

 considered to be only a casual visitor to Ontario, is now known 

 to breed plentifully 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 favorite breeding place. The 

 extent of the marsh, and the almost stagnant water seem to suit 

 the taste of these birds, and here they spend the summer and 

 raise their young without being disturbed. 



They are seldom seen on the wing but get very noisy and 

 excited before rain, keeping up an incessant cackling, which 

 — better than anything else — gives an idea of the number which 

 are moving about under cover of the rushes. 



They arrive from the south early in May and leave again in 

 September. 



16. RALLUS VIRGINIANUS Linn. 212. 

 Virginia Rail. 



Coloration exactly as in elegans, of which it is a perfect miniature. 

 Length, 8^-io^ ; wing about 4 ; tail about ij ; bill, i^-i| ; tarsus, ij-i^ ; 

 middle toe, i^-i|. 



Hab. North America, from British Provinces south to Guatemala and 

 Cuba. 



Nest in a tuft of reeds or rushes, some of them being bent down to 

 assist in forming the structure which is usually placed close to the water. 



Eggs 6 to 9 ; buff or creamy, speckled and blotched with reddish-brown. 



Although this cannot be said to be a numerous species, it 

 is very generally distributed, being found in all suitable 

 places throughout the Province. When not disturbed it may 

 be seen quietly wading in the shallow ponds in search of its 



83 



