VIRGINIAN RAIL. 107 



from these imperfect specimens, the clapper rail being 

 altogether unknown in Europe. 



I hare never met with any of these birds in the 

 interior at a distance from lakes or rivers. I have also 

 made diligent inquiry for them along the shores of Lakes 

 Champlain and Ontario, but without success. 



237. R4LLUS riRGIIUAlTVS, LINN.SC3 AKD WILSON. 



VIRGINIA* RAIL. 

 WILSON, PLATE LX1I. FIG. I. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 



THIS species very much resembles the European 

 water rail, {rattus aquaticus,) 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 regions. It is frequently seen along the 

 borders of our salt marshes, which the other rarely 

 visits; and also breeds there, as well as among 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 m 

 spring. It feeds less on vegetable, and more on animal, 

 food than the common rail. During the months of 

 September and October, when the reeds and wild oats 

 swarm with the latter species, feeding on their nutritious 

 seeds, a few of the present kind are occasionally 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 inferior to that of the 

 Other. In most of its habits, its thin compressed form 



