230 FEATHERED GAME 



nished with a long, stout, curved bill with which 

 to procure his food, insects, snails, and the 

 like for he is principally an animal feeder. 

 On this account his flesh is scarcely as good as 

 that of the sora. 



The Virginia Bail's nesting hahits are the 

 same as the other members of the family, with 

 a larger complement of eggs, there being from 

 seven to ten in a setting, dirty white in color, 

 and splashed with purplish spots. The Vir- 

 ginia may sometimes raise two broods in a sea- 

 son, but probably not often in New England. 



This bird is marked as follows: above, 

 streaked with dark brown and brownish olive, 

 the wing coverts a deep red brown ; top of head 

 and back of neck dark brown; below a rich 

 red brown, brightest on the breast and fading 

 out toward throat and belly ; flanks and insides 

 of wings blackish, barred with white. The 

 length of this species ten inches, extent four- 

 teen. Bill about one and three-quarters inches 

 long. Female smaller than the male and lighter 

 colored. 



A past master in the art of skulking, no water 

 rat can pass through tangled grass and cat-tails 

 as rapidly as he, when running with his head 



