RALLUS VIRGINIANUS : VIRGINIA RAIL. 283 



Club, ii, 1877, p. 22). Another Massachusetts record is 

 also furnished by Mr. Purdie, that of a specimen from 

 Sudbury Meadows, " some years since " (Bull. Nutt. 

 Club, iii, 1878, p. 146). 



The first and only Maine record, to our knowledge, is 

 given by Mr. N. C. Brown, a specimen having been 

 taken by Mr. A. G. Rogers, on Scarborough marsh, Oct. 

 8, 1 88 1 (Bull. Nutt. Club, vii, 1882, p. 60). But in col- 

 lating the previous New England record Mr. Brown 

 overlooks the West Haven, Conn., case. 



VIRGINIA RAIL. 

 Rallus VIRGINIANUS Linn. 



Chars. Coloration exactly as in R. elegans, of which species 

 the present is a perfect miniature. Length, 8.50-10.50; extent 

 about 14.00; wing, 4.00; tail, 1.50; bill, i. 35-1. 65 ; tarsus, 1.25- 

 1.50. 



A common summer resident, though necessarily of 

 local distribution, occurring in those fresh or brackish 

 marshes which afford the conditions requisite for its 

 health and happiness. It arrives the latter part of 

 April or early in May, and usually departs in Septem- 

 ber. The nest is built in a tuft of reeds or grasses close 

 to the water, and consists of a slight bedding of the 

 same materials. The eggs are six to eight or even more 

 in number, quite like those of the King or Clapper Rail 



vi, 1881, p. 62.) Dr. Brewer also overlooks the Linsley record, and 

 the two other Connecticut cases given by Merriam, in stating, as he 

 does in this connection, that " there was no jDrevious record of the 

 bird for New England, except West Haven, Conn." 



