RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS 233 



always be known by its rufous wing-coverts and clear cinnamon-rufous neck 

 and breast. W., 5'50; Tar., 1'90; B., 2'40. 



Range. Salt marshes of the Gulf coast of Florida. 



Nesting date, Raccoon Pass, La., May 19. 



211c. R. c. waynei (Brewst.}. WAYNE'S CLAPPER RAIL. "Similar to 

 R. crepitans, but the general coloring much darker, the underparts with 

 more ashy, the under tail-coverts with fewer markings" (Brewst., Proc. 

 N. E. Zool. Club, I, 1899, p. 50). 



Range. Salt marshes of the s. Atlantic coast from N. C. to Fla. 



Nesting date, Mclntosh, Ga., Mch. 29; Ft. Macon, N. C., May 9. 



212. Rallus virginianus Linn. VIRGINIA RAIL. Ad. Upperparts 

 fuscous or black, the feathers bordered by pale grayish brown; wings and 

 tail dark grayish brown; wing-coverts rufous, lores whitish, cheeks gray, 

 throat white, rest of the underparts cinnamon-rufous; flanks and under tail- 

 coverts barred or spotted with black and white. Downy young. Glossy 

 black. L., 9'50; W., 4'30; Tar., 1'30; B., 1'50. 



Range. N. A. Breeds from B. C., s. Sask., s. Keewatin, Ont., s. Que., 

 and N. B. s. to s. Calif., Utah, Kans., Mo., Ills., N. J., and e. N. C., and in 

 Toluca Valley, Mex.; winters from Ore., Utah, and Colo., to L. Calif, and 

 Guatemala, also in the Lower Miss. States, and from N. C. (casually Mass.) 

 to Fla. ; occurs casually n. to n. Que. and N. F. 



Washington, probably P. R. Long Island, rather common S. R., Apl.- 

 Oct. ; a few winter. Ossining, tolerably common S. R., to Sept. 29. Cambridge, 

 locally abundant S. R., Apl. 20-Sept. 25. N. Ohio, common S. R., Apl. 25- 

 Sept. 10. Glen Ellyn, not very common S. R., Apl. 25-Sept. 13. SE. Minn., 

 common S. R., May 12. 



Nest, of grasses, on the ground in marshes. Eggs, 6-12, pale buffy white, 

 spotted and speckled with rufous-brown, 1'26 x '96. Date, Cambridge, 

 May 15; Pewaukee, Wise., May 20; se. Minn., May 28. 



In almost any extensive fresh or brackish marsh, especially if it 

 has beds of cat-tail flags or scattered thickets of low bushes and briers, 

 one may hear in May and June, particularly in the early morning, late 

 afternoon, or during cloudy weather, a succession of grunting sounds 

 not unlike those of a hungry pig. Although by no means loud, they 

 have a pentrating quality which makes them carry to a considerable 

 distance; and they are apt to attract attention even when, as is usually 

 the case, they mingle with the songs of innumerable Red-winged Black- 

 birds, Marsh Wrens, and other swamp-loving birds. It is no easy matter 

 to trace them to their author, but if you are persevering and at the 

 same time fortunate, you may at length discover him skulking under 

 a bush or behind a tuft of grass. He is the Virginia Rail, an odd-look- 

 ing bird about the size of a Snipe. If you remain motionless, he may 

 presently come out into fairer view and walk slowly around the edge 

 of some A, lifting and putting down his large feet with curious 

 deliberation, cocking up his absurdly short tail at each step, and every 

 now and then stopping to thrust his bill deep into the ooze in search of 

 food. As he pauses to look at you, you are struck by his half-quizzical, 

 half-sinister expression, due, no doubt, to the fact that his eyes are 

 blood-red and deeply sunk in their long, narrow head. Startle him by 

 some sudden movement, and he will do one of three things dart back 

 into cover as swiftly as a frightened mouse, skip across the pool over 



