VIRGINIAN RAIL. 109 



the border of the Delaware. The parent rail shewed 

 great solicitude for their safety. They were wholly 

 black, -except a white spot on the bill ; were covered 

 with a fine down, and had a soft piping note. In the 

 month of June of the same year, another pair of these 

 birds began to breed amidst a boggy spring in one 

 of Mr Bartram's meadows, but were unfortunately 

 destroyed. 



The Virginian rail is migratory, never wintering 

 in the Northern or Middle States. It makes its first 

 appearance in Pennsylvania early in May, and leaves 

 the country on the first smart frosts, generally in 

 November. I have no doubt but many of them linger 

 in the low woods and marshes of the Southern States 

 during winter. 



This species is ten inches long, and fourteen inches 

 in extent ; bill, dusky red ; cheeks and stripe over the 

 eye, ash, over the lores and at the lower eyelid, white ; 

 iris of the eye, red; crown and whole upper parts, 

 black, streaked with brown, the centre of each feather 

 being black; wing-coverts, hazel brown, inclining to 

 chestnut ; quills, plain deep dusky ; chin, white ; throat, 

 breast, and belly, orange brown ; sides and vent, blackj 

 tipt with white ; legs and feet, dull red brown ; edge 

 of the bend of the wing, white. 



The female is about half an inch shorter, and differs 

 from the male, in having the breast much paler ; not of 

 so bright a'reddish brown ; there is also more white on 

 the chin and throat. 



When seen, which is very rarely, these birds stand 

 or run with the tail erect, which they frequently jerk 

 upwards* They fly with the legs hanging, generally 

 but a short distance ; and the moment they alight, run 

 off with great speed. 



