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pearance of an enemy; it rather trufts to its legs than its wings* 

 as it runs very faft and flies but ill, and during flight the legs 

 hang down : it will alfo frequently take to the water, where it 

 fwims tolerably well ; and often feen to run on the furface, if 

 there be any weeds to bear it up. This bird is alfo found in 

 plenty on the continent of Europe, Sweden, Norway, and Rujfia 

 throughout : likewife in the weftern part of Sibiria. On the 

 continent is migratory, being feen fpring and autumn paffing 

 over the ifland of Malta ; and has been met with at fea fifty 

 leagues diftant from the coaft of Portugal *„, 



Var. A. 

 VIRGINIAN R»- 



Description, 



Place*. 



Rallus Virginianus, Lin. Sjji. i. p. 263. 10. 

 Le Rale de Penfilvanie, Brif. Qrn. vi. Suppl. p. 138. 

 American Water Rail, Edw. pi. 279. 

 Virginian Rail, ArB. Zool. N° 408. 

 Lev. Muf. 



I Z E of the lad. Bill dufky, with the point black ; the under 

 mandible reddifh at the bafe f : irides red : crown dufky : 

 fides afh-coloured : from the bill, over each eye, a flreak of white: 

 chin the fame : hind part of the neck, back, and tail, brown 

 ftreaked with black ; fore part of the neck and bread browniih 

 orange : lower part of the belly, fides, and thighs, barred dufky 

 and white : vent white, orange, and black, mixed : the wing co- 

 verts reddifh brown : ridge of the wings white: quills, and tail 

 dufky : legs dark fiefh-colour. 



Inhabits Penfylvania. 



* Hiji. des Oif. 



+ Edwards mentions a fmall degree of baldnefs on the forehead j but I could 

 never find it in any which have come under my infpeclion. 



Clapper 



