BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 375 



thought to follow the example of the swallow, and bury itself 

 in the mud for the sake of passing the winter pleasantly, is a 

 rare bird in Massachusetts. Birds of passage, on their way to 

 their breeding places in the north, move on with very little de- 

 lay ; but on their return, having nothing but the fear of winter 

 to hasten their motions, they linger till their instinct Av^arns 

 them that the last minute is come. It is, accordingly, in the 

 autumn only, that this bird has been seen in our State. The 

 same gentleman who ascertained that the former species breeds 

 here, suspects that the nests of the other rails will hereafter 

 be found ; they have been discovered on the borders of 

 Lake Champlain and the North River. 



The Yellow-breasted Rail, Rallus Noveboracensis, is also 

 rare here, and in most parts of the United States. From May 

 to September, it is found on the shores of Hudson's Bay, where 

 it breeds ; and on its return to winter quarters, probably takes an 

 inland route, the greater proportion avoiding the Atlantic states. 

 From Audubon, we learn that only a few, comparatively, go to 

 the north ; the great body remain in the extreme southern parts 

 of the United States throughout the year. 



The Purple Gallinule, Gallinula Martinica, and the 

 Florida Gallinule^ G. galeata, have already been mentioned 

 as rare and accidental visiters in the State. 



LOBE-FOOTED BIRDS. 



The Cinereous Coot, Fulica Americatia, is found in almost 

 every part of North America, seeming to have little choice of 

 climate or temperature, and to regulate its migrations by the 

 scarcity or abundance of food. They appear among us in early 

 autumn, and remain till November, when they leave us for the 

 south by night. Their food consists of seeds, grasses, worms, 



