THE VIRGINIA RAIL 229 
feathers, these colors fading to a grayish tinge 
on the edges. Everywhere the colors are dull 
and uncertain, shading and blending gradually 
one into the other. Below, a pale yellowish 
brown, growing grayish on the throat. Flanks, 
axillars and linings of the wings dusky gray 
with small narrow bars of white. The whole 
tone of the bird is ashy gray. Wing quills and 
tail dark brown; eyelid and a small line over 
the eye white. Legs and feet dull greenish. 
Length from fourteen to sixteen inches; extent 
about twenty inches; female a little less. Being 
more of an animal feeder than is the sora its 
flavor is hardly as good as that of the more 
common bird, though by no means to be de- 
spised. 
THE VIRGINIA RAIL. 
(Rallus virginianus.) 
Inhabiting the same territory as the sora, or 
Carolina rail,—though preferring those spots 
where the fresh water springs bubble up 
through the mucky ooze of the marsh,—is the 
next most numerous species, the Virginia Rail. 
This is a very showy bird, somewhat larger and 
more brilliantly colored than the sora, and fur- 
