riBGINIA EAIL 293 



birds without being aware of their presence. Of the six species of 

 rails occurring in this state the Virginia has the widest general range ; 

 it is found almost everywhere throughout California and in most other 

 parts of North America as well. Even though it is a seemingly poor 

 flyer it migrates south during the winter months and spends the cold 

 season south of its breeding grounds. During the nesting season it 

 is found as far north on the Pacific coast as British Columbia, but in 

 winter it does not usually remain north of the latitude of central 

 California. During the summer months it may be found nesting in 

 almost any portion of the state where proper conditions offer. It 

 frequents both fresh and salt water marshes although chiefly the 

 former. 



As regards proportions of body and pattern of coloration the Vir- 

 ginia Rail is almost a duplicate of the California Clapper Rail, but 

 it is much smaller, being of about the bulk of a Killdeer. From marsh- 

 inhabiting birds other than 

 rails it may be distin- 

 guished by its long, slender, 

 brownish bill (fig. 50), 

 bright red eye, short tail 

 (which is usually held in a 

 vertical position), cinna- ^^J^,^''^ °' "''' "^ ^'^'"^'^ ^^"- 



mon-colored under surface, 



, -. , 1. 1 mi Note slender form (compare with ng. 51) 



and olive brown back. Ihe and small size (compare with figs. 48 and 49). 



flanks are blackish, barred 



with white. From the Sora Rail, a bird of about the same size as the 

 Virginia and to be found in the same situations, the latter species may 

 be known by its much longer and slenderer bill, by the lack of black 

 on its face, and by the presence of cinnamon rather than gray on 

 the under surface of its body. The Yellow Rail is much smaller than 

 the Virginia, and has a shorter bill and narrow white bars on the 

 upper surface of its body. 



The breeding range of the Virginia Rail in California extends 

 almost the entire length of the state. Eggs were taken at Fort Crook, 

 Shasta County, May 13, 1861 (Cooke, 1914, p. 24) ; and the species 

 is known to have nested at San Pasqual, San Diego County (Sharp, 

 1907, p. 86). As to altitude, it has nested from sea level, as at New- 

 port, Orange County (Willett, 1912a, p. 32), up to at least 4,000 feet 

 in Papoose Valley, Lassen County (Sheldon, 1907, p. 187). The 

 nesting season extends from early April — April 13 in one instance 

 ("Willett, loc. cit.) — to late June (Sheldon, loc. cit.). The records at 

 hand as shown in the accompanying table (no. 12) indicate that the 

 height of the nesting season is between the middle of May and the 

 first week in June. 



