OF VIRGINIA 59 
[212]. Rallus virginianus (Linneus). Virginia Rail. 
Raner.—North America. Breeds from British 
Columbia, southern Saskatchewan, southern Keewatin, 
Ontario, southern Quebec, and New Brunswick south to 
southern California, Utah, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, 
New Jersey, and eastern North Carolina, and in Toluca 
Valley, Mexico; winters from Oregon, Utah and Colorado 
to lower California and Guatemala, also in the lower 
Mississippi states, and from North Carolina (casually 
Massachusetts) to Florida; occurs casually north to 
northern Quebec and Newfoundland. 
This species of rail with the Sora, and a few of the 
Black Rail, are taken quite abundantly during the fall 
high tides. During these times the waters rise above the 
tops of the majority of marsh grass in the small rivers 
and creeks, and the birds are driven from their safe retreat 
on the ground below, to the tallest of the marsh grass 
stems, here to be shot by the gunners pushed over the 
marsh in a light draft punt or skiff. The Virginia Rail 
is, however, not as abundant as the Sora during these 
periods, the proportion being about twenty to one. They 
breed in suitable localities throughout Tidewater, while 
further inland they are very abundant in the brackish 
marshes at the heads of the creeks emptying into the 
James. The waters of Back Bay and its tributaries is 
an ideal breeding section for it. Mild winters a few 
remain with us, but the majority migrate further south in 
October and November, arriving with us in the spring, 
the middle of April. The nest is placed in or near the 
water, six to ten inches up, a well built platform of dry 
marsh grasses and stems, canopied over and concealed by 
