SPECIES 2. RALLUS VIRGINIJJNUS 

 VIRGINIAN RAIL. 

 [Plate LXIL Fig. 1.] 



Jrct. Zool. JVo, 408. EDW. 279. LATH. Syn. v. 3, p. 228, No. 

 1, var. A. PEALE'S Museum, JVb. 4426. 



THIS species very much resembles the European Water Rail, 

 (Rallus aquations) but is smaller, and has none of the slate or 

 lead colour on the breast, which marks that of the old continent; 

 its toes are also more than proportionably shorter, which, with 

 a few other peculiarities, distinguish the species. It is far less 

 numerous in this part of the United States than our common 

 Rail, and, as I apprehend, inhabits more remote northern re- 

 gions. It is frequently seen along the borders of our salt marsh- 

 es, which the other rarely visits; and also breeds there, as well 

 as amogg the meadows that border our large rivers. It spreads 

 over the interior as far west as the Ohio, having myself shot it 

 in the barrens of Kentucky, early in May. The people there 

 observe them in wet places, in the groves, only in spring. 1 1 

 feeds less on vegetable, and more on animal, food than the com- 

 mon Rail. During the months of September and October, when 

 the reeds and wild oats swarm with the latter species, feeding 

 on their nutricious seeds, a few of the present kind are occasion- 

 ally found; but not one for five hundred of the others. The food 

 of the present species consists of small snail shells, worms, and 

 the larvae of insects, which it extracts from the mud; hence the 

 cause of its greater length of bill, to enable it the more readily 

 to reach its food. On this account also, its flesh is much inferi- 

 or to that of the other. In most of its habits, its thin compress- 

 ed form of body, its aversion to take wing, and the dexterity 

 with which it runs or conceals itself among the grass and sedge. 



