60 THE BIRDS 
the surrounding tall vegetation. The eggs number from 
eight to twelve, the ground color a glossy creamish-white, 
specked with reddish-brown, and with fainter markings of 
lavender, more profusely on the larger end. Size of eggs, 
1.25x.90. Fresh eggs may be found from May 20th till 
June 5th. Probably only one brood a season. Their food 
is similar to the other members of the family: seeds, 
worms, beetles, snails, and other insect matter, being freely 
eaten. 
GENUs CRECISCUS. 
[216]. Oreciscus jamaicensis (Gmelin). Black Rail. 
Ranexr.—Eastern North America. Breeds from 
southern Ontario and Massachusetts south to Kansas, 
Illinois, and South Carolina; winters from Texas east 
through the Gulf States and south to Jamaica and Guate- 
mala; casual in Bermuda. 
During the fall equinoctial storms when the extra high 
tides are caused by the water being backed up the James 
River, a few of these birds are shot on the marshes by the 
gunners after Sora. It was not until the season of 1911 
that I had positive evidence of their breeding within our 
area, but on June 16th my father took an incomplete set 
in Northampton County, thus establishing a record for the 
State. The bird reminded him more of the common 
marsh or Norway rat (Hpinys Norvegicus) by the way it 
ran and skulked among the tall marsh grass. The nest is 
placed near a fresh-water marsh, on the ground, and com- 
posed of fine blades of flags and wide strips of marsh 
grasses, lined with fine strips and grasses. The eggs 
