Birds of Canada. 89 
R. virginianus.—The Virginia Rail. 
This species visits Canada in the spring, and 
remains until September. Upper parts, olive- 
brown, with stripes of brownish-black ; throat, 
white ; breast, bright rufous. Nests, in low 
meadows ; eggs, eight, of a deep buff color. Food 
consists of insects and worms. 
Porzana carolina.—The Carolina Rail. 
The Carolina Rail arrives in Canada about the 
tenth of April, and frequents the marshes and 
meadows. Upper parts, greenish-brown, with 
bands of black ; the sides of the neck and breast, 
bluish-ash; bill, greenish-yellow ; legs, green. 
Nests, on the ground ; eggs, eight in number, of 
a yellow-drab color, with an olive tint. In Oc- 
tober, or early in November, this species collect 
in flocks and leave for the coasts of Florida and 
Louisiana. 
P. gamaicensis —The Little Black Rail. 
This pretty Little Rail is an occasional fall 
visitor in Canada. Length, five inches. Color, 
blackish-brown. 
P.. noveboracensis —The Yellow Rail. 
This bird is a summer resident of Canada. 
Nests, in the grass; eggs, fourteen or fifteen , 
pure white. The upper parts are yellow-ochre 
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