MARSH AND SWAMP BIRDS. 



23 



No. 130. 



VIRGINIA RAIL. 



Genus: Rallus. 

 Species: R. virginianus. 



Order: Paludlcolag. 

 Family: Rallidas. 

 Distribution: 



A common summer resident of New England. 

 Date of Arrival: 



Latter part of April. 

 Date of Departure: 



Middle of October. 

 General Plumage: 



Upper parts black or grayish black, wings and tail brownish, 



coverts pale chestnut; under parts cinnamon brown, throat 



and face markings grayish white, flanks black and white. 



Bill and feet dark. Length about 9.50. 

 Song and Other Notes: 



' " Grunting sounds, ' ' and the male has a love song like ' ' cut- 



cuttu-cuttu-cuttu." Female and young three other notes or 



calls. 

 Haunts: 



Marshes or swampy ''scrub." 



